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Researchers have discovered two mutations in the H5N1 avian influenza virus that enable it to recognise human receptor proteins. The amino acid changes, might prove useful molecular markers for assessing the pandemic potential of H5N1 samples.

WWW.NATURE.COM/NATURE This press release is copyright Nature. VOL.444 NO.7117 DATED 16 NOVEMBER 2006 Avian Flu: Mutations mark pandemic potential? (pp 378-382) Researchers have discovered two mutations in the H5N1 avian influenza virus that enable it to recognise human receptor proteins. The amino acid changes, reported online this week in Nature, might prove useful molecular markers for assessing the pandemic potential of H5N1 samples. To replicate efficiently in humans and acquire the potential to cause a pandemic, it’s thought that bird influenza viruses must acquire the ability to recognize human host cell receptors. Yoshihiro Kawaoka and colleagues looked for mutations in a protein called haemagglutinin that sits on the surface of the H5N1 virus and binds with host receptor proteins. They found two separate mutations in the haemagglutinin of H5N1 viruses known to recognize avian receptors that enabled these viruses to recognize human receptors. CONTACT Yoshihiro Kawaoka (Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Japan) Tel: +81 3 5449 5310: E-mail: kawaoka@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp or kawaokay@svm.vetmed.wisc.edu PRESS CONTACTS… For North America and Canada Katie McGoldrick, Nature Washington Tel: +1 202 737 2355; E-mail: k.mcgoldrick@naturedc.com From Japan, Korea, China, Singapore and Taiwan Itsumi Kitahara, Nature Tokyo Tel: +81 3 3267 8751; E-mail: i.kitahara@natureasia.com For the UK/Europe/other countries not listed above Helen Jamison, Nature London Tel: +44 20 7843 4658; E-mail: h.jamison@nature.com <mailto:h.jamison@nature.com> About Nature Publishing Group Nature Publishing Group (NPG) is a division of Macmillan Publishers Ltd, dedicated to serving the academic, professional scientific and medical communities. NPG's flagship title, Nature, was first published in 1869. Other publications include Nature research journals, Nature Reviews, Nature Clinical Practice and a range of prestigious academic journals including society-owned publications. NPG also provides news content through news@nature.com and scientific career information through Naturejobs. NPG is a global company with headquarters in London and offices in New York, San Francisco, Washington DC, Boston, Tokyo, Paris, Munich, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Delhi, Mexico City and Basingstoke. For more information, please go to <www.nature.com>.

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