August 24, 2006

US opens access to genetic sequences of viruses for researchers

US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Tuesday (Aug 22) released genetic blueprints of over 650 genes of influenza viruses, into a database that would hopefully allow researchers to collaborate their research worldwide.

The list includes the H5N1 strain of bird flu virus.

Previously, access to the influenza sequences were limited to a small number of influenza researchers working together with the World Health Organisation

The action marks the beginning of a collaboration that would allow for greater access to data on various flu virus samples obtained from patients in the United States, the agency said in a statement.

The sequence information allows researchers to determine more about a virus' origin and to compare it to other viruses.

This would help scientists in their search for a suitable anti-viral drug and assess whether a certain virus would be capable of mutating to a version that would make it more easily transmissible among people.

The sequence information could be used to better identify the strains that should be included in future flu vaccines, CDC said, adding that it would provide genetic information for several hundred influenza viruses every year to encourage more research in the area.

These initiatives would set the stage for other countries to adopt similar approaches to the release of influenza virus sequence data that they manage, said Nancy Cox, director of the CDC's Influenza Division.