Announcing the genome of 150 types of avian influenza viruses

The US Department of Agriculture (USDA) government and scientists, together with university and industry partners, have published the entire gene coding sequence of 150 avian influenza viruses. These documents have broadened the scientific understanding of bird flu, a virus that primarily spreads to poultry that can also spread to humans.

'This is an important milestone in bird flu research,' said David Suarez, who led the unit's study of viral diseases from poultry at the southeastern poultry research laboratory. (SEPRL), administered by the United States Department of Agriculture (ARS) in Athens, Ga. ARS is the main internal scientific research agency of the US Department of Agriculture. Suarez observes ARS avian influenza virus reservoir in SEPRL.

Suarez added: 'Sequential data decoded by our team will help researchers better understand viral biology, and improve diagnostic tests for avian influenza viruses'. .

A recent publication for the genebank - the national health institute's genome database - is part of a special genetic sequence study.

The associates involved in collecting viruses include the wildlife animal research departments of USDA's animal and plant health control agency, as well as researchers at the University of Georgia (UGA), Ohio State (OSU), Alaska-Fairbanks, and other universities.

After the detergents of this virus were prepared in SEPRL, the virus's non-infectious genetic substances - known as ribonucleic acid or RNA, were sent to SeqWright in Houston, Texas, the company. that used his mastery to arrange the genome of each virus in a complete sequence. Sequential documents are reviewed and annotated at SEPRL for delivery to gene banks.

Suarez said: 'The ultimate goal of the study is to arrange 900 strains of avian influenza viruses from SEPRL storage'. In it, there are avian influenza viruses collected from poultry and wild birds in the US and around the world.

Sequential documents will be combined with comparative studies on the infectious and pathogenic abilities of viruses in many poultry species, including chickens, turkeys and ducks. An analysis of biological and sequence data will help in understanding how these viruses cause disease in humans and animals. Biological characterization is presented in collaboration with UGA, OSU and University of Delaware collaborators.

The entire genetic code of 150 different avian influenza viruses has been identified by a scientific research group led by the US Department of Agriculture.(Photo: Peggy Greb)