Baggio G, Filippini F, Righetto I. Comparative Surface Electrostatics and Normal Mode Analysis of High and Low Pathogenic H7N7 Avian Influenza Viruses. Viruses. 2023 Jan 21;15(2):305
Influenza A viruses are rarely symptomatic in wild birds, while representing a higher threat to poultry and mammals, where they can cause a variety of symptoms, including death. H5 and H7 subtypes of influenza viruses are of particular interest because of their pathogenic potential and reported capacity to spread from poultry to mammals, including humans. The identification of molecular fingerprints for pathogenicity can help surveillance and early warning systems, which are crucial to prevention and protection from such potentially pandemic agents. In the past decade, comparative analysis of the surface features of hemagglutinin, the main protein antigen in influenza viruses, identified electrostatic fingerprints in the evolution and spreading of H5 and H9 subtypes. Electrostatic variation among viruses from avian or mammalian hosts was also associated with host jump. Recent findings of fingerprints associated with low and highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses, obtained by means of comparative electrostatics and normal modes analysis, prompted us to check whether such fingerprints can also be found in the H7 subtype. Indeed, evidence presented in this work showed that also in H7N7, hemagglutinin proteins from low and highly pathogenic strains present differences in surface electrostatics, while no meaningful variation was found in normal modes.
See Also:
Latest articles in those days:
- Highly pathogenic avian influenza as a systemic risk - implications for control and preparedness 4 hours ago
- Multiple introductions and spread of novel reassortant highly pathogenic avian influenza A (H5N1) clade 2.3.4.4b viruses via wild birds, South Korea, 2024-2025 4 hours ago
- [preprint]The mammalian-adaptive PB2-E627K substitution preserves viral fitness of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV in birds 17 hours ago
- Mallard super-shedders of avian influenza exhibit distinct cloacal microbial abundance profiles 21 hours ago
- A digitally immune-optimized influenza vaccine broadly neutralizes swine and human H1N1 influenza viruses and protects from heterologous challenge 21 hours ago
[Go Top] [Close Window]


