With the number of swine flu cases in Australian rising to 14(5), global 
research in to the A(H1N1) virus has found that components of the swine flu virus may have been circulating undetected in pigs or other animals for an extended period of time(4).
With the sequencing of the A(H1N1) genome by the microbiology lab at the Public Health Agency of Canada1, it was discovered that the current swine flu virus consists of an assortment of genes from human, pig and avian viruses. This combination is named triple re-assortment.
A report published in the Science magazine(3) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom on May 22nd 2009, provides a detailed explanation into the probable origins of this virus.
This report states that the current H1N1 virus consists of eight gene segments. Two of these genes are from an avian virus that in 1979 infected Eurasian pigs; three from an older H1N1 virus from North American pigs; two from a separate case of triple re-assortment North American swine flu; and the final one from a human virus originally transmitted to humans by birds in 1968. All of these fragments of genes are said to have combined to form the current A(H1N1) virus. However, it is not certain whether this virus directly infected humans from pigs or whether it may have inhabited other organisms as intermediate hosts before making the jump into humans.(2, 3, 4)
The report also states that this virus has fewer genetic variations than the common seasonal human influenza viruses. Thus, allowing the development of a vaccine against possible variants of the A(H1N1) virus. (2, 3, 4)
research in to the A(H1N1) virus has found that components of the swine flu virus may have been circulating undetected in pigs or other animals for an extended period of time(4).With the sequencing of the A(H1N1) genome by the microbiology lab at the Public Health Agency of Canada1, it was discovered that the current swine flu virus consists of an assortment of genes from human, pig and avian viruses. This combination is named triple re-assortment.
A report published in the Science magazine(3) by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom on May 22nd 2009, provides a detailed explanation into the probable origins of this virus.
This report states that the current H1N1 virus consists of eight gene segments. Two of these genes are from an avian virus that in 1979 infected Eurasian pigs; three from an older H1N1 virus from North American pigs; two from a separate case of triple re-assortment North American swine flu; and the final one from a human virus originally transmitted to humans by birds in 1968. All of these fragments of genes are said to have combined to form the current A(H1N1) virus. However, it is not certain whether this virus directly infected humans from pigs or whether it may have inhabited other organisms as intermediate hosts before making the jump into humans.(2, 3, 4)
The report also states that this virus has fewer genetic variations than the common seasonal human influenza viruses. Thus, allowing the development of a vaccine against possible variants of the A(H1N1) virus. (2, 3, 4)
Posted by: 42052045
References:
1. Canada sequences swine flu virus. (May 7, 2009). (Online).
Available: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/05/07/2563273.htm?site=science&topic=latest
1. Canada sequences swine flu virus. (May 7, 2009). (Online).
Available: http://www.abc.net.au/science/articles/2009/05/07/2563273.htm?site=science&topic=latest
2. Cohen, J. (May 22, 2009). First Detailed Report of New Virus's Promiscuous
Past. (Online).
Available: http://blogs.sciencemag.org.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/scienceinsider/2009/05/first-detailed.html
3. Garten, R. et al. (May 22, 2009). Antigenic and Genetic Characteristics of
Swine-Origin 2009 A(H1N1) Influenza Viruses Circulating in Humans. (Online). Available: http://www.sciencemag.org.ezproxy.library.uq.edu.au/cgi/rapidpdf/1176225v1.pdf
4. Saey, T. (May 22, 2009). Genetic analysis of swine flu virus reveals diverse
parts components have existed for years but are combined in a new way. (Online). Available: http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/44068/title/Genetic_analysis_of_swine_flu_virus_reveals_diverse_parts
5. The Australian. (May 24, 2009). More swine flu cases confirmed. (Online).Available: http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25530052-12377,00.html
