Rapid and differential diagnosis of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) subtype H5 is essential for the effective prevention and control of outbreaks caused by this pathogen. In this study, we describe a one-step multiplex real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (mRRT-PCR), using H5-, N1-, and N8-specific primers and probes, for differential detection of two HPAIVs...

The control of coagulation enzymes by antithrombin is vital for maintenance of normal hemostasis. Antithrombin requires the co-factor, heparin, to efficiently inhibit target proteinases. A specific pentasaccharide sequence (H5) in high affinity heparin induces a conformational change in antithrombin that is particularly important for factor Xa (fXa) inhibition. Thus, synthetic H5 accelerates th...

BACKGROUND Numerous Asian cases of avian influenza virus infection, especially the highly pathogenic strain H5N1, in humans have raised the concern that another influenza pandemic is close. However, there are no effective therapeutic drugs or preventative vaccines available. Hemagglutinin is the membrane glycoprotein of avian influenza virus responsible for receptor binding to human cells and t...

The [H5]phenylalanine model was compared with the [1-C]leucine method to determine whole body protein synthesis (WBPS) and degradation (WBPD) in sheep fed at two levels. The animals were fed either 103 (M-diet) or 151 (H-diet) kcal ME/kg/day once daily in a crossover design for 21 days each. The isotope dilutions were simultaneously conducted as a primedcontinuous infusion of [H5]phenylalanine,...

Krauss et al. (1) use lack of detection of highly pathogenic (HP) H5 clade 2.3.4.4 (henceforth “H5”) influenza A viruses (IAVs) from >22,000 wild bird samples collected in North America in 2014–2015 to argue that HP H5 IAVs disappeared from waterfowl and that unresolved mechanisms restrict emergence and perpetuation of HP IAVs in natural reservoir species. Here we offer an alternative interpret...

Background: Studies have shown that DNA vaccines can induce protective immunity, which demonstrated the high potential of DNA vaccines as an alternative to inactivated vaccines. Vaccines are frequently formulated with adjuvants to improve their release, delivery and presentation to the host immune system. Methods: The H5 gene of H5N1 virus (A/Ck/Malaysia/5858/04) was cloned separately into pcDN...

The emergence in 2009 of a swine-origin H1N1 influenza virus as the first pandemic of the 21st Century is a timely reminder of the international public health impact of influenza viruses, even those associated with mild disease. The widespread distribution of highly pathogenic H5N1 influenza virus in the avian population has spawned concern that it may give rise to a human influenza pandemic. T...