'DISEASE X': New Strain Of Bird Flu Kills 40% Of Those Who Contract, 100s Dead In China

Influenza viruses exhibit specificity in their ability to recognize sialosides as cell surface receptor determinants through the viral binding protein, the hemagglutinin. Depending on the species of origin, the hemagglutinin has specificity for sialosides with sialic acid in the NeuAcα2–3Gal or NeuAcα2–6Gal linkage (53–55). While the intrinsic affinity of sialosides for the hemagglutinin is weak (K d ≈2 mM), binding is strengthened through polyvalent interactions at the cell surface (56). Results shown in Fig. 6 reveal the binding of a recombinant avian H3 hemagglutinin (duck/Ukraine/1/63) bound to Neu5Acα2–3-linked to galactosides (24, 162-169, and 176-180), but not to any Neu5Acα2–6- or Neu5Acα2–8-linked sialosides. Intact influenza viruses, such as A/Puerto Rico/8/34 (H1N1), were also strongly bound to the array. The overall affinities are consistent with previous findings and show specificity for both a2–3 and a2–6 sialosides (57). Detailed fine specificities were also revealed such as binding to Neu5Acα2–3- and Neu5Acα2–6-linked to galactosides (24, 151, 157, 161-180, 182-190, and 199), as well as certain O-linked sialosides. SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth COL Mikel J. Burroughs CPT Michael Maag SSgt GG-15 RET Jim Lint SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth PO3 David Fries Capt Seid Waddell Maj Marty Hogan

I was about to say that it’s crazy; another disease coming from that area. However, I guess with over 1 billion people, it’s not that crazy.

Thanks for the news. Better information than on the evening news....