Study challenges original theory about Canada’s first human case of bird flu
University of British Columbia researchers found that genetic mutations in Canada's first human bird flu case actually weakened the virus's ability to bind to human cells. This challenges the previous assumption that these specific mutations were making the avian influenza more dangerous to humans.
Why it matters
Understanding how avian flu mutations function is critical for pandemic preparedness and accurately assessing the risk of zoonotic disease transmission.
A biosecurity warning sign is seen on a locked gate at a commercial poultry farm in Abbotsford, B.C., in November, 2024. DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
University of British Columbia researchers say the unusual genetic mutations identified in Canada’s first human avian influenza case weakened the virus’ ability to bind to human cells, a critical first step in infection.
The findings were published in a study on Monday in Nature Communications . The authors said they conducted the research to explore whether the mutations signalled that avian flu was evolving to become better at infecting people, which was the prevailing assumption until this publication.
Senior author Sriram Subramaniam, a UBC professor of biochemistry and molecular biology, said he was surprised to learn the answer was no.
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