India's National Institute of Virology finds "small mutation" in circulating H1N1 virus

[Ronan Kelly]

Swine flu virus is changing: National Institute of Virology
TNN | Mar 15, 2013, 03.44 AM IST


AHMEDABAD: The devil is in the detail. The recent outbreak of swine flu in Gujarat and neighboring states could be blamed on a "small mutation" in the genetic structure of the H1N1 virus. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) had to say this after they examined a slew of cases that have been pouring into their laboratories for confirmatory tests.

However, experts suggest that there is nothing to worry as prompt treatment and patient care are key to faster recovery. Director of NIV D T Mourya told TOI, "It's true there is a small mutation in the genetic stricture of H1N1. But current action plan followed by different states is apt for controlling the disease's spread."
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http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/Swine-flu-virus-is-changing-National-Institute-of-Virology/articleshow/18980453.cms

[Ronan Kelly]

Re: India's National Institute of Virology finds "small mutation" in circulating H1N1 virus

Swine flu virus shows genetic mutation
ByUmesh Isalkar, TNN | Mar 16, 2013, 04.15 AM IST

PUNE: The swine flu virus isolated from the throat swab samples of six H1N1-infected patients at the National Institute of Virology (NIV) has shown a small genetic mutation. All the six patients are from Pune. Scientists have, however, made it clear that the mutation has nothing to do with the high virus activity seen in Gujarat where 110 people have succumbed to the contagion since January till date.
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Elaborating, senior scientist Mandeep Chadha, deputy director, NIV said, "Small mutations have been observed at two positions - D97 N and K 283 - of the amino acid in the haemagglutinin (HA) gene of the swine flu virus. Similar observations on the mutation at two positions have been made in US, Singapore and Mexico."

Genetic characterisation indicated that the viruses predominantly clustered in clade 7 (clade is a group of organisms believed to have evolved from a common ancestor), which is globally the most widely circulating pH1N1 clade.
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Among the newly identified mutations reported in the pandemic H1N1 virus that could alter the viral fitness, E374K in the HA was increasingly noted in 35 Indian isolates beyond September 2009 and its co-occurrence with D97N or V30A was also observed in the more recent isolates.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Swine-flu-virus-shows-genetic-mutation/articleshow/18998629.cms

[sharon sanders]

Re: India's National Institute of Virology finds "small mutation" in circulating H1N1 virus

hat tip NS1 at Genewurx

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