Polymerase mutations underlie early adaptation of H5N1 influenza virus to dairy cattle and other mammals.
Vidhi Dholakia, Jessica L. Quantrill, Samuel A. S. Richardson, Nunticha Pankaew, Maryn D. Brown, Jiayun Yang, Fernando Capelastegui, Tereza Masonou, Katie‐Marie Case, Jila Ajeian, Maximillian N. J. Woodall, Callum Magill, Graham Freimanis, Amy Mccarron, Ecco Staller, , Daniel H. Goldhill
Cattle B3.13 H5N1 polymerase gained PB2 M631L and PA K497R, boosting replication in bovine and human cells via better bovine ANP32A use; later PB2 E627K and D740N add activity.
Nature Communications · Jan 16, 2026Peer-reviewedMicrobiology✦ In-depth digest