Chinese scientists report that lab-generated hybrid viruses combining genes from avian H5N1 and pandemic 2009 H1N1 influenza viruses can achieve airborne spread

 May 2, 2013 (CIDRAP News)   Chinese scientists report that lab-generated hybrid viruses combining genes from avian H5N1 and pandemic 2009 H1N1 (pH1N1) influenza viruses can achieve airborne spread between guinea pigs, a finding that seems likely to renew the debate about the risks of creating novel viruses that might be able to spark a human pandemic.

Writing in Science, the researchers say that 5 of 127 hybrids they generated by shuffling genes from the two subtypes showed "highly efficient" transmission in guinea pigs.  None of the guinea pigs died, but some mice that were infected with the reassortant strains did succumb….

In another study on H5N1 transmissibility, also published today in Science, another team of Chinese researchers examined how hemagglutinin (HA) from H5N1 attaches to human cell receptors.  They identified a mutation, Q226L, that enables a mutant form of H5N1 HA to bind to both avian and human receptors….The authors used genetically modified mice to test the virulence of the hybrid viruses. …

  Dr. Andrew Pekosz, virologist of Johns Hopkins School of Public Health said he thinks the findings justify any risks involved in the experiments:  "As far as I could tell from reading this and being familiar with the group and how they do their research, everything falls under the guidelines that apply to labs in the US regarding biocontainment, respiratory protection, and monitoring….

  David Relman, MD, a microbiologist and infectious disease expert at Stanford University, expressed concern over the biosecurity implications of the study.  “It clearly has biosecurity concerns," he said in an interview. "I would have liked to see these experiments discussed by a wider community of scientists and nonscientists before they were undertaken. . . . I would have some grave questions about doing these without having a clearer idea of how exactly the results would lead to tangible real-time benefits."                                                         Dr. Wain-Hobson said:  "Which evolutionary trajectory will nature take?   We don't know because there are simply too many.   So what is the use [of the findings] for surveillance?"   https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2013/05/study-lab-made-h5n1-h1n1-viruses-spread-guinea-pigs