- PITTSBURGH (PRNewswire) --
Recombinomics is issuing a new prediction and warning of a likely alteration
in the avian influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin gene. Like the warning/prediction
issued on October 22nd, 2005, this new alteration will increase the virus'
affinity for human receptors and lead to more efficient transmission of
H5N1 to humans. The company has notified the WHO of its prediction and
warning regarding the near term likelihood of this genetic alteration occurring.
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- In October, Recombinomic's prediction/warning was based
upon H5N1 entering the Middle East via migratory birds, where another avian
influenza, H9N2 was endemic. Recombinomics, utilizing its patent pending
approach, predicted that the H gene in H5N1 would exchange genetic information
with the H gene in H9N2 and would acquire the genetic change S227N (also
called S223N). This alteration had been previously shown to increase the
affinity of H5N1 for human receptors. In late December 2005, the first
human infections by the Qinghai strain of H5N1 were reported in Turkey.
S227N was detected in the index case for that outbreak with six additional
cases confirmed four of whom died.
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- Today, Recombinomics is predicting a similar change in
the adjacent position of the H5N1 virus' receptor binding domain. The
donor sequences are again on the H, but in H1N1 European swine sequences.
The new genetic change, G228S, has also been previously shown to increase
the affinity for human receptors. Like H9N2 in the Middle East, H1N1 is
endemic in swine populations in Europe. Infection by H5N1 in H1N1 infected
swine will allow the viruses to exchange genetic information via recombination
and allow H5N1 to acquire S228N. The region of identity between H5N1 and
H1N1 is downstream from the S227N position, so H5N1, with and without the
S227N change, can acquire this new sequence. This sequence acquisition
by the H5N1 virus will also lead to more efficient transmission to humans.
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- "H5N1 is migrating into areas where it is encountering
unique influenza sero-types it has not encountered while largely confined
to Asia over the past few years. This expanded geographical reach allows
H5N1 to exchange genetic material with novel donor sequences, which under
the appropriate selection pressures, enables the genetic changes to become
fixed in the genome of the virus. H5N1 is in the process of acquiring
genetic information that allows for more efficient infections of humans",
said Recombinomics President, Dr. Henry Niman.
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- H5N1, like most rapidly evolving viruses, uses homologous
recombination to create novel genes that enhance the ability of the virus
to evolve and remain competitively viable. Recombinomics' proprietary
approach predicts these changes and identifies novel gene targets for new
vaccines, which in turn allows manufacturers to develop vaccine in advance
of the emergence of new genetically altered, and potentially pandemic viral
strains.
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- Recombinomics Inc. Predicts Important Genetic Change
in the H5N1 (Avian Flu) Virus
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- PITTSBURGH, Feb. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Recombinomics
Inc. issued an avian influenza prediction and warning on October 22, 2005
of a likely genetic alteration in the H5N1 hemagglutinin gene that would
lead to more efficient transmission of H5N1 to humans. This genetic change
was linked to H5N1 from migrating birds flying into the Middle East and
infecting birds indigenous to the region already carrying another avian
influenza sero-type, H9N2.
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- Recombinomics clearly predicted that this dual infection
would allow the genetic material of the two viruses to recombine and create
an important genetic change. Specifically, the company's President, Dr.
Henry Niman, predicted that the serine at position 227 (also called 223)
would change to asparagine. This change would increase the affinity of
the hemagglutinin glycoprotein for human receptors, leading to an increased
efficiency of transmission of H5N1 from birds to humans, and very possibly
from humans to humans.
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- On January 5, 2006 the WHO announced that H5N1 had been
confirmed in a human index case in Turkey. On January 19th, the scientific
journal, Nature, summarized this development and described ongoing research
at the National Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), in London, that identified
the genetic alteration, S227N (also called S223N) -- confirming the change
predicted in the aforementioned Recombinomics warning of October 22, 2005.
Recombinomics stood alone in making this prediction.
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- "Recombinomics, Inc. utilized a proprietary understanding
of the natural process of recombination to identify potential Influenza
donor sequences, which could then recombine with H5N1 in wild birds to
produce an altered hemagglutinin gene product that would increase the efficiency
of H5N1 infections in humans" said Dr. Henry Niman. "Our patent
pending technology, coupled with information on wild bird migration patterns,
allowed us to identify the general timeframe, geographic location, and
the specific genetic change that would occur in the H5N1 virus".
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- The genetic alteration predicted by Recombinomics was
identified in the index case of a large familial cluster involving at least
three sets of human cousins in Turkey. Included in this H5N1 familial
cluster were seven confirmed cases, four of which became fatal, and nine
additional hospitalized cases. The size of the clusters demonstrated how
small, but "predictable," genetic changes can dramatically increase
the transmission efficiency of H5N1 from birds to humans, and humans to
humans. This increased efficiency is the last remaining step in the progression
of H5N1 toward a catastrophic pandemic.
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- H5N1, like most rapidly evolving viruses, uses homologous
recombination to create novel genes that enhance the ability of the virus
to evolve and remain competitively viable. Recombinomics' proprietary
approach predicts these changes and identifies novel gene targets for new
vaccines, which in turn allows manufacturers to develop vaccine in advance
of the emergence of new genetically altered, and potentially pandemic viral
strains.
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- About Recombinomics, Inc. -- The Company was founded
by Dr. Henry Niman, a former Scripps Institute Assistant Member, based
on his pioneering work in the area of viral evolution. Dr. Niman's research
identified recombination as the underlying mechanism driving rapid genetic
change, allowing him to file a series of patents based on a deep understanding
of this paradigm shifting process. Recombinomics is in the process of commercializing
its patent-pending approach to significantly improve the standard vaccine
development process. Recombinomics, through its analysis and commentary
section of its website (http://www.recombinomics.com), has been consistently
ahead of both the scientific community and government agencies in anticipating
the genetic evolution and geographic expansion of H5N1.
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- Patricia A. Doyle DVM, PhD
- Bus Admin, Tropical Agricultural Economics
- Univ of West Indies
-
- Please visit my "Emerging Diseases" message
board at:
- http://www.emergingdisease.org/phpbb/index.php
- Also my new website:
- http://drpdoyle.tripod.com/
- Zhan le Devlesa tai sastimasa
- Go with God and in Good Health
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