Research in the area of bird flu reported from D. Balkissoon and colleagues
2007 NOV 13 -- "Avian influenza is a serious threat to the poultry industry and, as the potential source of a human pandemic virus, to public health. Different Mx alleles have been reported to confer resistance or susceptibility to influenza virus replication, and so knowledge of their frequencies is important when considering the potential for improvement of modern commercial flocks," scientists writing in the journal Immunogenetics report. "We analysed a range of chicken lines and ancestral breeds for the relevant Mx codon that confers resistance or susceptibility to influenza virus replication. We confirmed the high frequency of the susceptibility allele in contemporary meat-type (broiler) birds compared to egg-laying strains and found this difference is present already in ancestral breeds. We sequenced full-length complementary DNA (cDNA) and noted additional substitutions, which may be associated with the resistance haplotypes," wrote D. Balkissoon and colleagues. The researchers concluded: "High frequencies of the susceptibility allele could be readily reduced by modern breeding techniques." Balkissoon and colleagues published their study in Immunogenetics (Low frequency of the Mx allele for viral resistance predates recent intensive selection in domestic chickens. Immunogenetics, 2007;59(8):687-691). Additional information can be obtained by contacting C. Butter, Institute Animal Health, Compton, Newbury RG20 7NN, Berks, UK. The publisher of the journal Immunogenetics can be contacted at: Springer, 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013, USA. Keywords: United Kingdom, Newbury, Avian Flu, Avian Influenza, Bird Flu. This article was prepared by Health Risk Factor Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2007, Health Risk Factor Week via NewsRx.com.
|
