Researchers from the UW-Madison have identified a key step that the avian flu virus would have to take to be able to transmit easily from person to person — which could result in an international pandemic.
The researchers, led by internationally known virologist Yoshihiro Kawaoka, have identified a single change in a viral protein that facilitates the virus’ ability to infect the cells of the upper respiratory system in mammals.
By adapting to the upper respiratory system, the virus could infect a wider range of cell types and would be more easily spread.