Cecilia Di Genova

The mammalian-adaptive PB2-E627K substitution preserves viral fitness of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV in birds.

This study shows that the mammalian-adaptive PB2-E627K mutation in H5N1 HPAIV maintains viral fitness in avian hosts, increasing zoonotic risk.

Generation of cloned sheep lacking galactose-α1,3-galactose and Nglycolylneuraminic acid antigens

This paper generates cloned sheep lacking two xenoantigens, Gal and Neu5Gc, by knocking out their respective genes, creating a model that better mimics human immune status for preclinical testing.

Pigeons exhibit low susceptibility and poor transmission capacity for H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b high pathogenicity avian influenza virus

This study shows pigeons are not easily infected by H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b virus and cannot transmit it to other birds or chickens.

Detection of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 high pathogenicity avian influenza virus in a sheep in Great Britain, 2025

The paper reports the first detection of clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 HPAIV in a sheep in Great Britain, highlighting the zoonotic potential and implications for interspecies transmission.

Investigating Factors Driving Shifts in Subtype Dominance within H5Nx Clade 2.3.4.4b High-Pathogenicity Avian Influenza viruses

This study investigates the factors driving the shift in dominance from H5N8 to H5N1 HPAIVs in wild birds, finding that viral pathogenicity and immune responses differ between subtypes.