Latest news with #KesavardhanaSannula
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Bird flu virus mutation threat to humans: IISc
BENGALURU: Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers have found that the H5N1 (bird flu) virus can be a potential threat to humans due to specific mutations, suggesting enhanced and proactive surveillance measures which need to be implemented against infections by the H5N1 virus. The researchers, led by Kesavardhana Sannula, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry, IISc, have discovered that the currently circulating 2.3.4.4b clade (representing a group of organisms having a common ancestor) of H5N1 has specific mutations in its genome that increase its human adaptive potential. 'This clade is acquiring the same key mutations that pandemic human influenza strains possess, which could be a growing risk,' said Ranjana Nataraj, Project Associate at the Department of Biochemistry and the study's first author. The team was also able to pinpoint animals that would be likely to harbour virus strains with the highest human adaptive potential. Interestingly, viruses that can adapt to fox hosts seemed to have higher adaptive potential than cattle-adapted strains. 'It is very surprising,' Kesavardhana said. H5N1 influenza (bird flu) virus was first identified in birds three decades ago and has now gradually found its way to humans. H5N1 is a strain of the influenza virus harbouring type 5 haemagglutinin (H5) and type 1 neuraminidase (N1) surface proteins, which help in viral entry and spread, respectively. Kesavardhana said, 'The 2.3.4.4b clade has infected many mammalian species and is adapting to [non-human] mammals, which is a concern for human adaptation. The clade is panzootic (infecting across species), causing unprecedented mortality in birds and mammals, along with several sporadic human infections.'
Time of India
2 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Indian Institute of Science study warns of rising human infection risk from evolving bird flu strain
Bengaluru: Three decades after the H5N1 influenza virus was first detected in birds, scientists say a particular branch of the virus is inching closer to becoming a serious human threat. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in the city have identified specific genetic mutations in the currently circulating 2.3.4.4b clade that may be increasing its potential to infect people. "This clade has infected many mammalian species and is adapting to [non-human] mammals, which is a concern for human adaptation…It is panzootic, causing unprecedented mortality in birds and mammals, along with several sporadic human infections," said Kesavardhana Sannula, assistant professor in IISc's department of biochemistry, who led the study. H5N1's surface proteins — type 5 haemagglutinin (H5) for cell entry and type 1 neuraminidase (N1) for viral spread — are key to its infectivity. When the virus jumps to a new host, mutations in its genome can help it survive, and sometimes thrive, in the new environment. The IISc team set out to examine whether the 2.3.4.4b clade was evolving proteins that could make the leap to humans easier — and which animal hosts might be accelerating that shift, IISc said Tuesday. You Can Also Check: Bengaluru AQI | Weather in Bengaluru | Bank Holidays in Bengaluru | Public Holidays in Bengaluru | Gold Rates Today in Bengaluru | Silver Rates Today in Bengaluru Using computational tools, the team analysed nearly 43,000 protein sequences: 7,000 from birds, 820 from non-human mammals, and 35,000 from human influenza strains H1N1 and H3N2. They looked for amino acids under "selection pressure"— rapidly changing regions — and tracked how these mutations were distributed across the viral polymerase complex, nucleoproteins, and haemagglutinin. The mutations were then sorted into two categories: adaptive (helping the virus infect humans) and barrier (hindering cross-species spread). Their model also ranked potential animal hosts by the risk their adapted viruses could pose to humans. Fox-adapted strains, surprisingly, appeared more dangerous than cattle-adapted ones. "This clade is acquiring the same key mutations that pandemic human influenza strains possess, which could be a growing risk," said Ranjana Nataraj, the study's first author. The findings, the researchers argue, make a strong case for proactive, targeted surveillance — especially in mammals that can act as "stepping-stone" hosts for the virus's adaptation to humans. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
IISc study highlights how H5N1 influenza poses serious risk to humans
The H5N1 influenza virus, which was first identified in birds three decades ago, has now gradually found its way to humans. Indian Institute of Science (IISc) researchers in a new study have discovered that the currently circulating 2.3.4.4b clade of H5N1 has specific mutations in its genome that increase its human adaptive potential. H5N1 is a strain of the influenza virus harbouring type 5 haemagglutinin (H5) and type 1 neuraminidase (N1) surface proteins, which help in viral entry and spread, respectively. Common ancestor IISc said that clade represents a group of organisms having a common ancestor. 'The 2.3.4.4b clade has infected many mammalian species and is adapting to [non-human] mammals, which is a concern for human adaptation. The clade is panzootic, causing unprecedented mortality in birds and mammals, along with several sporadic human infections,' Kesavardhana Sannula, assistant professor in the Department of Biochemistry, IISc. Growing risk According to Ranjana Nataraj, project associate at the Department of Biochemistry and the study's first author, this clade is acquiring the same key mutations that pandemic human influenza strains possess, which could be a growing risk. IISc said that when the influenza virus enters a new organism, it can develop genetic mutations. This helps the virus adapt to the new host. The researchers were trying to decode whether the 2.3.4.4b clade was evolving to produce crucial adaptations in its proteins that allow it to infect humans. They also wanted to decipher which host animals can potentially accelerate this adaptation, giving the virus a leg up in scaling the evolutionary ladder. Mr. Sannula's team took a computational approach and analysed 7,000 protein sequences of 2.3.4.4b H5N1 found in birds, 820 sequences from non-human mammals, and 35,000 human H1N1 and H3N2 sequences, in order to identify which amino acids are under selection pressure – rapidly changing. They used multiple sequence alignment (a tool to identify similar regions in multiple proteins), constructed phylogenetic trees (which represent how species have diverged from their common ancestor over time), and annotated specific variations in all the proteins of H5N1 infecting non-human mammals and humans. Increased mutations The team found an increased number of mutations specifically in the viral polymerase complex (PA, PB2), nucleoproteins, and haemagglutinin (HA) proteins. IISc said that once it identified these mutations, the team classified them depending on whether the mutations can help the virus spread from non-human mammals to humans (adaptive) or simply survive in the non-human host (barrier). 'Finally, they developed a simple mathematical approach and estimated the human adaptive potential for the 2.3.4.4b clade,' IISc said. The team was also able to pinpoint animals that would be likely to harbour virus strains with the highest human adaptive potential. Interestingly, viruses that can adapt to fox hosts seemed to have higher adaptive potential than cattle-adapted strains. Based on their findings, the researchers suggest that enhanced and proactive surveillance measures need to be implemented.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
IISc study warns of rising human infection risk from evolving bird flu strain
Infographic depicting key finding | Credit: IISc BENGALURU: Three decades after the H5N1 influenza virus was first detected in birds, scientists say a particular branch of the virus is inching closer to becoming a serious human threat. Researchers at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) in Bengaluru have identified specific genetic mutations in the currently circulating 2.3.4.4b clade that may be increasing its potential to infect people. 'This clade has infected many mammalian species and is adapting to [non-human] mammals, which is a concern for human adaptation…It is panzootic, causing unprecedented mortality in birds and mammals, along with several sporadic human infections,' Kesavardhana Sannula, assistant professor in IISc's Department of Biochemistry, who led the study, said. H5N1's surface proteins — type 5 haemagglutinin (H5) for cell entry and type 1 neuraminidase (N1) for viral spread — are key to its infectivity. When the virus jumps to a new host, mutations in its genome can help it survive, and sometimes thrive, in the new environment. The IISc team set out to examine whether the 2.3.4.4b clade was evolving proteins that could make the leap to humans easier — and which animal hosts might be accelerating that shift, IISc said Tuesday. Using computational tools, the team analysed nearly 43,000 protein sequences: 7,000 from birds, 820 from non-human mammals, and 35,000 from human influenza strains H1N1 and H3N2. They looked for amino acids under 'selection pressure'— rapidly changing regions — and tracked how these mutations were distributed across the viral polymerase complex, nucleoproteins, and haemagglutinin. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Calcutta Users Prefers Toothsi Aligners Toothsi by MakeO Book Now Undo The mutations were then sorted into two categories: adaptive (helping the virus infect humans) and barrier (hindering cross-species spread). Their model also ranked potential animal hosts by the risk their adapted viruses could pose to humans. Fox-adapted strains, surprisingly, appeared more dangerous than cattle-adapted ones. 'This clade is acquiring the same key mutations that pandemic human influenza strains possess, which could be a growing risk,' said Ranjana Nataraj, the study's first author. The findings, the researchers argue, make a strong case for proactive, targeted surveillance — especially in mammals that can act as 'stepping stone' hosts for the virus's adaptation to humans.
