Researchers at Erasmus MC in Rotterdam have discovered why certain strains of bird flu become more dangerous than others. While it was already known that viruses can develop mutations while replicating, the exact process had remained an “unsolved mystery” until now. The study reveals that a specific enzyme can become “stuck” during this process, leading to the creation of hazardous errors in the viral code.
These findings could eventually help scientists understand how dangerous variants of other viruses, such as Ebola, emerge. According to Mathilda Richard, a molecular virologist at the hospital, the mechanism involves an enzyme that is very similar to those found in various other viral families. This means the discovery could have broad implications for predicting future outbreaks.
The research comes at a critical time for the agricultural sector. Since a mandatory housing order was introduced for poultry in October, bird flu has been detected at dozens of farms. This has resulted in the culling of more than 2 million chickens to prevent the further spread of the disease.
@anp | NEWS BRAINPORT
