(Source-news-medical.net)
A recent study led by researchers at UNC Charlotte has uncovered that the latest variants of the H5N1 virus, commonly known as avian or bird flu, are more adept at evading human antibodies than previous strains. This research, conducted by the Center for Computational Intelligence to Predict Health and Environmental Risks (CIPHER) and the North Carolina Research Campus at Kannapolis, has been published as a preprint on the bioRxiv server and is awaiting peer review.
In June 2024, the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported over 300 mammalian infections with the H5N1 virus between 2022 and 2024. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has documented approximately five human infections in 2024 alone. However, as the UNC Charlotte researchers noted, the broader implications for human health remain unclear.
Advanced Techniques and Findings
Utilizing cutting-edge AI and physics-based modeling, researchers at UNC Charlotte, with support from the North Carolina General Assembly, have delved into the interactions between H5N1 virus proteins and antibodies. Their findings aim to aid in the development of more effective vaccines against this virus.
The research project was spearheaded by Colby T. Ford, a visiting scholar in data science at CIPHER and founder of the startup Tuple, LLC, in collaboration with recent graduates from the College of Computing and Informatics, Shirish Yasa, Khaled Obeid, and Sayal Guirales-Medrano. Professors Richard Allen White III and Daniel Janies from the Department of Bioinformatics and Genomics also played crucial roles in the study.
Comprehensive Analysis
Building on CIPHER’s prior research on SARS-CoV-2, this study analyzed data from 1,804 computational experiments and conducted a phylogenetic analysis of 18,508 H5N1 protein sequences collected between 1959 and 2024. The researchers visualized the geographic and host shifts in H5N1’s history, revealing significant insights.
According to the study, mutations related to “host-shifts” from birds to mammals significantly hinder the ability of antibodies to neutralize the H5N1 virus. The research also indicated that the virus has been transmitted across various host species and geographic locations, suggesting no single reservoir host species or location. This widespread transmission points to the potential for the virus to escalate from an epidemic to a pandemic.
Groundbreaking Efforts
This study exemplifies UNC Charlotte’s pioneering use of advanced computational research to combat infectious diseases globally. “We are entering a new era of molecular epidemiology where we provide functional insights beyond traditional disease surveillance,” said Daniel Janies, co-director of CIPHER and the Carol Grotnes Belk Distinguished Professor in Bioinformatics and Genomics. “We demonstrate that large datasets can be rapidly analyzed with high-performance computing and artificial intelligence to assess preparedness for significant problems like H5N1, which is spreading rapidly to new hosts and regions, including American cattle and farmworkers.”
Richard Allen White III, Assistant Professor of Bioinformatics, emphasized the growing threat of H5N1. “H5-related avian influenza A is an emerging pathogen in humans while being an ongoing pandemic in wildlife for over two years. Our predictive study offers a glimpse into the future use of AI in the battle against emerging pathogens.”
As H5N1 continues to evolve and spread, the insights gained from this study are crucial for developing more robust defenses against the virus. The research underscores the importance of advanced computational methods and AI in understanding and mitigating the impact of emerging infectious diseases.
