Airborne transmission of influenza A/H5N1 virus between ferrets
S Herfst, EJA Schrauwen, M Linster, S Chutinimitkul… - science, 2012 - science.org
Highly pathogenic avian influenza A/H5N1 virus can cause morbidity and mortality in
humans but thus far has not acquired the ability to be transmitted by aerosol or respiratory
droplet (“airborne transmission”) between humans. To address the concern that the virus
could acquire this ability under natural conditions, we genetically modified A/H5N1 virus by
site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent serial passage in ferrets. The genetically
modified A/H5N1 virus acquired mutations during passage in ferrets, ultimately becoming …
humans but thus far has not acquired the ability to be transmitted by aerosol or respiratory
droplet (“airborne transmission”) between humans. To address the concern that the virus
could acquire this ability under natural conditions, we genetically modified A/H5N1 virus by
site-directed mutagenesis and subsequent serial passage in ferrets. The genetically
modified A/H5N1 virus acquired mutations during passage in ferrets, ultimately becoming …
