New genetic marker to fight bird flu uncovered

Australian scientists have discovered a genetic marker that can accurately predict which patients will experience more severe disease in a new strain of avian influenza (H7N9) currently found in China.
Being able to predict which patients will be more susceptible to the emerging influenza strain, will allow clinicians to better manage an early intervention strategy, researchers said.
"By using genetic markers to blood and lung samples, we have discovered that there are certain indicators that signal increased susceptibility to this influenza," Professor Katherine Kedzierska, senior author of the study from the University of Melbourne, said.
"Higher than normal levels of cytokines, driven by a genetic variant of a protein called IFITM3, tells us that the severe disease is likely," Kedzierska said.

"We call this a Cytokine Storm and people with the defective genetic variant of the protein IFITM3 are more likely to succumb to severe influenza infection," she said.
Researchers are exploring how genetic sequencing and early identification can allow to intervene in treating patients before they become too unwell, Professor Peter Doherty, lead author of the study, said.
Researchers from the University of Melbourne are collaborating closely with Professor Jianqing Xu and his group from the Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center in China.
The study was published in the Journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).