Scripps Research scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 bird flu virus infection and potential transmission in humans New findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance for H5N1 mutations that pose risks to public health.
December 05, 2024
LA JOLLA, CA Avian influenza viruses typically require several mutations to adapt and spread among humans, but what happens when just one change can increase the risk of becoming a pandemic virus? A recent study led by scientists at Scripps Research reveals that a single mutation in the H5N1 bird flu virus that has recently infected dairy cows in the U.S. could enhance the virus' ability to attach to human cells, potentially increasing the risk of passing from person to person. The findings published in Science on December 5, 2024 highlight the need to monitor H5N1's evolution.
Currently, there are no documented cases of H5N1 transmitting between people: bird flu cases in humans have been linked to close contact with contaminated environments as well as infected birds (including poultry), dairy cows and other animals. However, public health officials are concerned about the potential for the virus to evolve to transmit efficiently between humans, which could lead to a new, potentially deadly pandemic.
The flu virus attaches to its host via a protein called hemagglutinin that binds to glycan receptors on the surfaces of host cells. Glycans are chains of sugar molecules on cell surface proteins that can act as binding sites for some viruses. Avian (bird) influenza viruses like H5N1 primarily infect hosts with sialic acid-containing glycan receptors found in birds (avian-type receptors). While the viruses rarely adapt to humans, if they evolve to recognize sialylated glycan receptors found in people (human-type receptors), they could gain the ability to infect and possibly transmit between humans.
Monitoring changes in receptor specificity (the way a virus recognizes host cells) is crucial because receptor binding is a key step toward transmissibility, says Ian Wilson, DPhil, co-senior author and the Hansen Professor of Structural Biology at Scripps Research. That being said, receptor mutations alone don't guarantee that the virus will transmit between humans.
Past cases in which avian viruses adapted to infect and transmit between people required multiple mutations, usually at least three. But for the H5N1 2.3.4.4b strain (A/Texas/37/2024) isolated from the first human infection with a bovine H5N1 virus in the United States, researchers found that just a single amino acid mutation in the hemagglutinin could switch specificity to binding human-type receptors. Here, bovine refers to the species for dairy cows that were the immediate source of the virus for the human infection. Importantly, the mutation wasn't introduced into the whole virus only the hemagglutinin protein to study its receptor-binding properties.
For their study, the research team introduced several mutations into the H5N1 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin protein that had been involved in receptor specificity changes in previous avian viruses. These mutations were selected to mimic genetic changes that could occur naturally. When the team assessed the impact of one of these mutations, Q226L, on the virus' ability to bind to human-type receptors, they found that that mutation significantly improved how the virus attached to glycan receptors, which represent those found in human cells.
The findings demonstrate how easily this virus could evolve to recognize human-type receptors, says first author Ting-Hui Lin, a postdoctoral associate at Scripps Research. However, our study doesn't suggest that such evolution has occurred or that the current H5N1 virus with only this mutation would be transmissible between humans.
Instead, the research team focused on understanding how natural mutations, like Q226L, could arise and what their impact might be. To investigate the potential mutations that could enable the H5N1 2.3.4.4b hemagglutinin to attach to human receptors, the team used advanced binding assays in collaboration with the lab of co-senior author James Paulson, PhD, the Cecil H. and Ida M. Green Chair of Chemistry at Scripps Research. These assays, which are tests to mimic how well a virus attaches to a cell, allowed the researchers to precisely track how the altered H5N1 hemagglutinin interacted with human-type receptors.
Our experiments revealed that the Q226L mutation could significantly increase the virus' ability to target and attach to human-type receptors, explains Paulson. This mutation gives the virus a foothold on human cells that it didn't have before, which is why this finding is a red flag for possible adaptation to people.
The shift alone, however, may not be enough to enable human-to-human transmission. Other genetic changes such as mutations in polymerase basic 2 (E627K) that enhance viral replication and stability in human cells would likely be necessary for the virus to spread efficiently among people.
Nevertheless, given the rising number of H5N1 human cases stemming from direct contact with infected animals, the findings highlight the need for proactive surveillance of evolution in H5N1 and similar avian flu strains. While there's no immediate cause for alarm, the researchers stress that even a single mutation that changes how H5N1 binds to human cells shouldn't be overlooked.
Continuing to track genetic changes as they happen will give us an edge in preparing for signs of increased transmissibility, adds Wilson. This type of research helps us understand what mutations to watch for and how to respond appropriately.
In addition to Lin, Paulson and Wilson, authors of the study, A Single Mutation in Bovine Influenza H5N1 Hemagglutinin Switches Specificity to Human Receptors, include X
Most recent headlines
11/12/2025
Dalet, a leading provider of cloud-native, end-to-end media workflow solutions, ...
27/11/2025
LONDON Vizrt has added several AI-driven advanced features offering improved speed, intelligence and accuracy in the newest version of its media asset managemen...
27/11/2025
Prime Video has launched AI-powered video season recaps in a beta version for select English-language Prime Original series in the U.S., a move Amazon is callin...
27/11/2025
27 Nov 2025
GSMA brings M360 Eurasia 2026 to Samarkand in partnership with VEON...
27/11/2025
Tahar Rahim and Izuka Hoyle star in the gripping six-part Sky Original from Acad...
27/11/2025
Thursday 27 November 2025
Sky Arts Reveals the Nation's Greatest Basslines - and Queen Reign Supreme
The UK's most iconic basslines have been revealed...
27/11/2025
Back to All News
Stranger Things 5': Prepare for One Last Adventure With O...
27/11/2025
The media industry has a paradox at its core. It's an industry built on light, color and imagination, yet behind the scenes, it's powered by one of the ...
27/11/2025
Rating reflects rating progress across areas including policies, diversity & inclusion, health & safety and Net Zero leadership
Winchester, UK, 27 November 202...
27/11/2025
What are the industry standards for Retail Media? Kathryn explains that certification is based on the IAB Europe Retail Media Measurement Standards and the IAB ...
27/11/2025
World champion boxer and Irish sporting icon Katie Taylor will be in studio this...
27/11/2025
Roblox, one of the world's most popular online gaming platforms for primary ...
27/11/2025
Black Friday is leveling up. Get ready to score one of the biggest deals of the season - 50% off the first three months of a new GeForce NOW Ultimate membership...
26/11/2025
SVG Sit-Down: Prime Video EP Mike Muriano Previews Massive Black Friday Slate Fe...
26/11/2025
A cinematic snow sculpture at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. Photo by Randall Michelson...
26/11/2025
Book podcasts are booming. On Spotify, you'll find everything from celebrity book clubs to deep dives with bestselling authors. And in markets where audiobo...
26/11/2025
Mumbai, November 24, 2025: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, JioStar, in collab...
26/11/2025
LONDON Factual content producer ITN Productions has launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins....
26/11/2025
MIAMI TelevisaUnivision said it struck a new multiyear distribution agreement with YouTube TV that includes distribution of TelevisaUnivision's U.S. network...
26/11/2025
OpenDrives, Inc., a leader in software-defined data storage and data services, today announced the launch of the Atlas Corporate Creative Solution. This new Atl...
26/11/2025
Disguise, the industry-leading company powering the world's biggest live performances, is partnering with pioneering LED wall manufacturer DVS to give atten...
26/11/2025
HighField AI, the pioneer in agentic and multimodal automation for broadcast and media production, today announced the expansion of its global channel partner n...
26/11/2025
As high-stakes Premier League fixtures approach and additional premium content launches, with MONO positioning themselves to dominate Thailand's sports stre...
26/11/2025
Hosting a wide variety of events from high-intensity NHL games to complex live music concerts and major entertainment productions, Montreal's 21,000 capacit...
26/11/2025
Vizrt, the leader in live production technology revolutionizing viewer engagement and experience, releases AI-driven advances focusing on speed, intelligence, a...
26/11/2025
ITN Productions, an award-winning factual content producer, today launched a new low-latency IP gallery for news bulletins. Responsible for delivering a leading...
26/11/2025
Ikegami reports ongoing advances throughout 2025 in developing and delivering coordinated television production solutions that maximize quality, versatility and...
26/11/2025
Following the Nov. 21 blackout of NBCUniversal channels on Fubo, the two sides have traded barbs about their inability to reach a new carriage deal....
26/11/2025
LONDON As TV sports rights become increasingly important for both broadcasters and streamers, Ampere Analysis predicts global investment in the genre will surpa...
26/11/2025
LOS ANGELES Vubiquity said it has achieved the Amazon Web Services (AWS) Media & Entertainment Competency as part of the AWS Partner Network (APN). This designa...
26/11/2025
WASHINGTON The Federal Communications Commission's Enforcement Bureau said it has entered into a consent decree with Comcast calling for the cable company t...
26/11/2025
Berklee Named to the Hollywood Reporters Top Music Schools List The publication highlights the college's screen scoring program, industry partnerships, and ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Animated Series Love Through a Prism' Casts New Light on ...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
NALIP Unveils Fifth Cohort of Director Incubator
Social Impact
26 November 2025
United States
Link copied to clipboard
The National Assoc...
26/11/2025
YouView Achieves Greenly Gold Certification for SustainabilityNov 26, 2025
YouView is proud to announce a Gold Certification award from Greenly for our perform...
26/11/2025
Back to All News
Netflix Deepens Partnership with Taiwan's 62nd Golden Hors...
25/11/2025
Tracy Bonareri Onchoke, an investigative journalist from Kenya is the winner of the Thomson Foundation's Young Journalist Award 2025.
The 26-year-old-sele...
25/11/2025
SVG All-Stars: Blayke Scheer, Senior Director, Creative Content, YES NetworkThe Indiana alum has turned storytelling into an artform for more than two decadesBy...
25/11/2025
Op-Ed: With FCC's C-Band Auction on the Horizon, Broadcasters Need Proven, C...
25/11/2025
Analysis: Is Baller League really the future of sport? By Callum McCarthy, Editor-at-Large
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:10
Print This Story
With KSI on...
25/11/2025
Platinum Whitepaper: The Growth of Broadcast in the World of Major Large Scale E...
25/11/2025
SVG Summit 2025 Preview: SVG Women's Sports WorkshopBy Samantha Gabay
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 - 10:27 am
Print This Story | Subscribe
Story Highlig...
25/11/2025
SVG New Sponsor Spotlight: CacheFly's Matt Levine on the Evolving Role of th...
25/11/2025
Peacock's EA SPORTS Madden NFL Cast Levels Up on Thanksgiving With SkyCam as...
25/11/2025
Mathias Broe attends the 2025 Sundance Film Festival premiere of Sauna at Library Center Theatre. (Photo by Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Fes...
25/11/2025
The best playlists, podcasts, and audiobooks bring a little extra magic to your daily routine. With new features and offerings, Spotify Premium delivers even mo...
25/11/2025
Comprehensive new research confirms what we already knew: Australian music fans love the quality, quantity, and access they have to new and local music on strea...
25/11/2025
Applicable Products
Objectives The purpose of this application note is to give a brief background on 5G (NR) wireless communication an explain the reason a SN...
25/11/2025
Nielsen will now measure both Lionsgate's FAST channel MovieSphere and Movie...
Scripps Research scientists identify mutation that could facilitate H5N1 bird flu virus infection and potential transmission in humans New findings underscore the importance of ongoing surveillance for H5N1 mutations that pose risks to public health.
