Clade 2.3.4.4b H5N1 influenza A virus exhibits high infectivity in human respiratory tract models
We read with great interest the recent letter by Li and colleagues reporting the emergence of mammalianadapted clade 2.3.4.4bH5N1 viruses carrying the PB2-E627K mutation in migratory birds at Qinghai Lake.
Authors
- Mara Fischer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2674-8001)
- Achim D. Gruber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4502-0393)
- Torsten Bauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1275-7361)
- Stefan Hippenstiel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5146-1064)
- Andreas C. Hocke (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6935-8612)
- Lisa Buchauer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4722-8390)
- E. Wyler
- Anna Löwa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5551-731X)
- Anita Balázs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1402-5239)
- Markus Landthaler (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1075-8734)
- Katharina Hellwig
- Tihomir Rubil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3346-4031)
- Maren Mieth
- Mario Tönnies
- Thorsten Wolff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7688-236X)
- Diego G. Diel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3237-8940)
- Matthias Budt (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5960-515X)
- Jens Neudecker
- J. C. Rückert
- Mark Melzer
- Marcus A. Mall
- Victor Sikora
- Annika E. Pfeiffer
- Mareike Graff
Institutions
- Max Delbrück Center (DE)
- Cornell University (US)
- Robert Koch Institute (DE)
- Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
- Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring (DE)
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DE)
- New York State College of Veterinary Medicine (US)
- Freie Universität Berlin (DE)
- Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin (DE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Infection
- Published
- 2026-03-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jinf.2026.106722
- Primary Topic
- Respiratory viral infections research
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- U.S. Department of Agriculture
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
- Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung
- Freie Universität Berlin
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service