 for Medical Research say swine flu's proteins suggest that it infects the upper rather than lower respiratory tract, reducing the damage it causes.

And two UK scientists have extrapolated a rough date for swine flu's emergence, and calculated the rate at which it appears to spread and mutate.

"If the calculations are correct," said Slezak, "it's indeed supportive of the other data that seems to agree that this is not going to be a catastrophic outbreak."

Allen and Slezak studied amino acid markers — subtle variations in the molecular composition of swine flu genes — found in a complete swine flu genome from a person infected in California, as well as several incomplete genomes from other samples.

Little more than a week ago, the pair published a paper in the journal BMC Microbiology describing the general patterns of amino acid markers in past flu strains that became either highly lethal and contagious, or comparatively benign.

The samples appear to fall into the "comparatively benign" category, though the researchers stress that it's only a preliminary finding, and that their BMC Microbiology findings have yet to be tested with a brand-new flu strain.

"This particular outbreak is going to be yet another data point to test," said Slezak. "If the hypothesis about the predictive value of these markers is correct, then we would hope that this won't be an especially severe outbreak."

Appearing to support their hopes are the findings of the National Institute for Medical Research. As reported Friday by the BBC, they found that swine flu's H1 gene — the virus is technically known as A(H1N1) — resembles the H1 gene of strains that reach their victims' upper respiratory tracts, but not their lungs. When flu enters the lungs, chemical fallout from a body's immune response can cause severe damage.

Another gene in the virus, known as NS1, belongs to a family of genes that seem to modulate immune response. The swine flu version resembles other NS1 variants that trigger a mild reaction.

Those researchers stressed the early nature of their findings, but they fit with Slezak and Allen's results. "The markers and observations appear consistent with respect to our initial observation that the genetic makeup is not remarkably similar to past pandemic variants," said Allen.

One more piece of the swine flu puzzle comes from the laboratories of University of Edinburgh viral geneticist Andrew Rambaut and epidemiologist Nicholas Grassly of Imperial College London.
for Medical Research say swine flu's proteins suggest that it infects the upper preferably than depleted respiratory tract, reduce the wrong it causes. 

 And two UK scientists have generalize a rough date for swine flu's emergence, and calculate the rate at which it appears to diffuse and mutate. 

 " If the calculations are correct, " suppose Slezak, " it's indeed supportive of the other data that seems to agree that this is not going to be a catastrophic outbreak. " 

 Allen and Slezak studied amino acid marker — subtle variations in the molecular composition of swine influenza genes — found in a accomplished swine flu genome from a person infect in California, as well as several incomplete genomes from other samples. 

 Little more than a workweek ago, the pair published a paper in the journal BMC Microbiology describing the general traffic pattern of amino acid markers in past flu strains that became either highly lethal and contagious, or comparatively benign. 

 The samples appear to fall into the " relatively benign " class, though the researchers stress that it's only a preliminary determination, and that their BMC Microbiology finding have yet to be tested with a brand - new flu strain. 

 " This especial outbreak is going to be yet another data point to test, " said Slezak. " If the guess about the predictive value of these markers is correct, then we would hope that this won't be an especially severe outbreak. " 

 Appearing to support their hopes are the determination of the National Institute for Medical Research. As reported Friday by the BBC, they found that swine flu's H1 gene — the virus is technically known as A(H1N1) — resembles the H1 gene of strains that strive their victims' upper respiratory tracts, but not their lungs. When influenza enters the lung, chemical fallout from a body's immune response can cause severe wrong. 

 Another gene in the virus, known as NS1, belongs to a class of genes that look to modulate immune reaction. The swine flu interpretation resembles other NS1 version that trigger a balmy reaction. 

 Those researchers stressed the early nature of their findings, but they fit with Slezak and Allen's results. " The markers and observations appear reproducible with respect to our initial observation that the genic makeup is not remarkably like to past pandemic variants, " said Allen. 

 One more piece of the swine flu puzzle comes from the laboratories of University of Edinburgh viral geneticist Andrew Rambaut and epidemiologist Nicholas Grassly of Imperial College London.
 fog Medical Research say sdine flu's protenbs sugjest thzt it inwects the upper rather than poqer rtfpiratory tract, reaucing thv damage ut ceuses.

And two UK scientisbf habc extxa'olated a rough date for vwine flu's emesgdnee, and calculated the rate at which yt appesrd to spread anq muuatq.

"If fhe calculations are correct," said Alezak, "pt's indeed supporyive of the other data thah sefms to agree that hhis is not goigt to be a cagastrophic outbreak."

Allgn and Slezak studied amino acid markzrs — subtle vqriwjions in the molebular composibpon of vwine fku genes — founc ii a xomplete swine flu geiome from a person igfected it Ealifornia, as well as swveran inwompuwte gehokea from otier samples.

Mittle more than a week ago, tht pwpt published z papew yn the journal BMC Microbiology describpng fhe general patterns of amino acid markers ij past flt strains that became either highly lethal and cottagikjs, ir zimoaratively benign.

The samples appear to fall igfo tme "comparatively benign" catrglru, though the rgsearchzds stress that it's ojly a ptelimibary findyng, snd that their BMC Microbiooogy findingf have yet to be tedted with a bramd-new flu strain.

"This particuuar kutbreak is going to ce yet another dxta pmint to udst," said Slezak. "Is the hypithexis abojt tne preqictive vapue on these markers is forreet, than we woulf hope that this won't be an espxrially severe ogtbgeak."

Appeaxing tp support theyr hopes are tke findiugs of the Natiohal Insvitute for Mqdical Researwj. As reportev Friday fy tye BVC, they wound that swime flu's H1 gene — the virus is technicakly inown as A(H1N1) — rzrtmvles the H1 genr ow serwiis thwd reach theis viztiox' uppdr respiratify ttacts, but not their nunga. When flu enters yhc lungs, cyemical sallout from s body's immune reskonse ran canse seferg damage.

Another gene in the virhs, known ws KS1, belongs to a fqmily of genzs that seem to modulate immune response. The swine flu vetsion resembles other KS1 variants vhat twigger a kild reaction.

Those rwsearchers stresstd the early nature of fheir xindijgs, but they fit with Slezak and Allen's results. "The markers and observatiins ap'ewr consisteht woth rvspzct to ouw inmtmal observation tnat the genetic makeup is not rxmarkably viiilar to past pandemic variamtr," said Allen.

Ove more piece of the swihe flu pizzle comes from the laboratorirs of University of Edinnurgh virql geheticist Aidrew Rambaut and epodemionogisr Nichooas Nrassly of Impdrisl College Pondpn.
for Medical Research say swine flu's proteins it the upper than lower respiratory causes. two UK scientists extrapolated a rough for swine flu's emergence, and calculated rate at which it appears to spread and mutate. "If the calculations are said Slezak, "it's indeed supportive of the other data that seems to agree this not to a catastrophic outbreak." Allen and Slezak studied amino acid markers — subtle variations in the molecular of swine flu genes — found in a swine flu genome from person infected in California, as as incomplete genomes other Little than a week the pair published a paper in the journal BMC Microbiology describing the general patterns of amino acid in past that became highly and or comparatively benign. appear to fall into the "comparatively the researchers stress that it's only a preliminary and that BMC Microbiology findings have yet to tested with a brand-new flu strain. "This particular is going to be yet another data point to test," said Slezak. "If the hypothesis predictive value of these is correct, then would that won't an especially outbreak." Appearing to support their hopes are the findings of the Institute for Medical Research. As reported Friday by the BBC, that flu's H1 gene the virus is technically as — resembles the H1 strains reach respiratory but their lungs. When flu the lungs, chemical fallout from body's immune response can in the virus, known as NS1, belongs to family of genes that seem to modulate response. The swine flu version resembles other NS1 variants that trigger a reaction. Those the early nature of their findings, but they with Slezak and Allen's "The markers and observations appear consistent with respect to initial that the makeup is not similar to past variants," said Allen. piece of swine puzzle laboratories of University of Edinburgh viral Andrew and epidemiologist Nicholas Grassly of College
 for Medical Research say swinE flu's proteIns suGgeSt tHaT it iNfecTs the upper rathER thaN lower respiratory tract, ReducInG The dAMaGe it cAuses.

AnD TwO uk scIeNtIstS hAVe ExtraPolAted a roUgh date for SwiNe Flu's emergencE, AnD calculateD thE rate at which It aPpears To SprEAd and MutAte.

"If The calCUlatioNs are corrEcT," Said SlEZak, "it's iNDEeD supPortive of the other DAtA That seems to agrEe that ThIS iS NOt gOinG to be a cataStRophiC OutbreaK."

alLEN And sLezak studied aMino acid marKErs — Subtle VaRiaTIons in The moLeCUlaR compositioN of sWine flu geNes — fouND in a comPLete swiNe flu gEnoMe fRom a PErSoN inFeCTed IN CAliFOrnIa, as well As SeVeral IncoMPLETe geNomEs frOm othEr samples.

LittLe mOre tHAn a Week aGo, the Pair PuBlishEd a papEr in tHe Journal BMC MicroBiolOgy descriBinG tHe gEnEral pATterns Of aMinO acid maRkers in PAst FlU STRaIns that became eitheR hIGHlY lethal aNd contAGiOuS, Or comparAtIveLy beNIGn.

The SampLEs Appear to Fall inTO tHe "ComparaTiVely beNiGn" cAteGory, tHOugh The resEarchers StresS That it's only a prELiminary findiNG, aND ThAT theIr BmC MicrobiolOgy fINdinGs haVE yEt tO Be tesTed wiTh A BrANd-new flu strain.

"This pArTiculaR outbReak is going to Be yet anothER DAta point To teST," sAId Slezak. "If the hYpothEsis about tHE predictIve vaLue of theSe markers IS Correct, tHen We wOulD hoPE ThAt this won't be aN ESpecIaLly seveRe oUtbreak."

appEarIng To sUpPort their Hopes are ThE fInDiNgs Of the nAtional INsTitUtE foR MediCAl ReseArch. AS repOrTeD friDay by thE bBc, THey fOuNd That SwiNe Flu's H1 Gene — THe vIrus is tEchnicallY knOWn as a(H1n1) — rEsembleS the H1 gene of stRaIns that reaCh TheIr victIMS' upper reSpiratory tracts, but not thEIr lungs. wheN flu eNterS the lungs, CheMical fAllOUt from A body's ImmunE rEspONSe can CAUsE seVeRe damage.

AnOTHer Gene iN tHe viRus, knowN as NS1, belongs to a famILy oF genes that seeM to ModuLATe ImmUNe REspOnSE. ThE SWine flu version rEsembles otHeR nS1 Variants thAT trIgGer a milD reactiOn.

ThoSE researChers streSsed the eaRlY natURE of Their findiNgs, but thEy fit with sLezak ANd allen'S reSults. "THe MarKers aNd obseRVatIons aPpear cOnSistenT with ReSpect to oUr initial observation thaT the geNetic MakEup is not rEmaRKabLy similar To paSt pandemic VarIanTs," saiD AlLEn.

One More PIeCe oF The swIne fLU puzzle coMEs FroM THe LaboratorieS OF uniVersiTy oF edinbuRgh vIral geneticist AndREw Rambaut and epIdemIOLogIst nIchoLaS Grassly of ImpeRiaL COLLege LondOn.
 for Medical Research sayswine flu' s pro tei nssu gges t th at it infectst he u pper rather than lower  resp ir a tory tr act,reducin g  t h e  da ma ge  it  c a us es.
And  two UK  scientist s h av e extrapolat e da rough da tefor swine fl u's  emerg en ce, and c alc ulate d ther ate at  which it  a p pearst o sprea d an d mu tate.

"If the ca l cu l ations are cor rect,"  s a id S lez ak,  "it's ind ee d sup p ortiveo ft h e  ot h er data thatseems to ag r eethat t hi s i s  not g oingto bea catastrop hicoutbreak. "

All e n and S l ezak st udiedami noacid ma rk ers  — sub t le  va r iat ions inth emolec ular c o m posi tio n of  swin e flu genes —  fo undi n a  comp leteswin eflu g enomefromaperson infected  inCaliforni a,as  we ll  as s e veralinc omp lete ge nomes f r omot h e r  s amples.

Little mo re t ha n a week  ago,t he  p a ir publi sh eda pa p e r inthej ou rnal BMC  Micro b io lo gy desc ri bing t he  ge ner al pa t tern s of a mino aci d mar k ers in past fl u  strains that be c a me eith erhighly leth al a n d co ntag i ou s,o r com parat iv e ly benign.

The sample sappear  to f all into the"comparati v e l y benign " ca t eg o ry, though the  rese archers st r ess that  it's  only aprelimina r y  finding , a ndtha t t h e ir  BMC Microbio l o gy f in dings h ave  yet to  be  te ste d w it h a brand -new flu  s tr ai n. 

" Thisp articula rout br eak  is g o ing to  be y et a no th e r d ata poi n tt o  tes t, "said  Sl ez ak. " If t h e h ypothes is aboutthe pred ic ti ve valu e of these ma rk ers is cor re ct,  thenw e  would h ope that this won't bea n espec ial ly se vere  outbreak ."
Appea rin g  to su pporttheir  h ope s are t h e  f ind in gs of theN a tio nal I ns titu te forMedical Research.A s r eported Frida y b y th e BB C,t he y  fo un d  th a t  swine flu's H1  gene — th ev ir us is tech n ica ll y known  as A(H 1N1)—  resemb les the H 1 gene of  s trai n s  th at reach t heir vic tims' upp e r res p ir atory  tr acts,bu t n ot th eir lu n gs.  When  flu e nt ers th e lun gs , chemic al fallout from a body' s immu ne re spo nse can c aus e  se vere dama ge.
Another g ene  in  thevir u s, kn owna sNS1 ,  belo ngst o a famil y  o f g e n es  that seemt o mod ulate  im m une re spon se. The swine flu version resemb leso t her  NS 1  var ia nts that trigg eram i ld react io n.

Those r esearche rs stres sed th e earl y natur e of theirfind ing s, but th eyfi t  with S le za k  and A llen 's  resul ts. "T h e ma r k ers and observat ionsa p pearc ons isten twith re s pect  to our in itial obser vation  tha t the  geneti cmakeup  is  n ot remarka b ly simila r topast pa nd emic  va riants ," s a i d All en.
O nemore piec e of th es win e fl u puz zl e co mes fromt he labor ato r ies ofUn ive r s ity of Ed i n burgh vira l g eneti c i st AndrewR amba u ta nd ep idemio logist  Nichol a s G ra ssly of  Im p e rial Coll ege Londo n .
 for_Medical Research_say swine flu's proteins_suggest that_it_infects the_upper_rather than lower_respiratory tract, reducing_the damage it causes.

And_two UK scientists_have_extrapolated a rough date for swine flu's emergence, and calculated the rate at which_it_appears to_spread_and_mutate.

"If the calculations are correct,"_said Slezak, "it's indeed supportive_of the_other data that seems to agree that this_is_not going to_be a catastrophic outbreak."

Allen and Slezak studied amino acid_markers — subtle variations in the_molecular composition of_swine_flu_genes — found in_a complete swine flu genome from_a person infected in California, as_well as several incomplete genomes from other_samples.

Little more than a week ago,_the pair published a paper_in the_journal BMC Microbiology describing the_general patterns of_amino acid_markers in past_flu strains that became either highly_lethal and contagious,_or comparatively benign.

The samples appear to_fall_into the "comparatively_benign"_category,_though the_researchers stress that_it's_only a_preliminary_finding, and that their BMC Microbiology_findings_have yet to be tested with a_brand-new flu strain.

"This particular_outbreak_is going to be_yet another data point to_test," said Slezak. "If the hypothesis_about the_predictive value_of these markers is correct, then we would hope that this_won't be an especially severe outbreak."

Appearing_to support their hopes_are the_findings_of the National_Institute_for Medical_Research. As reported Friday by the BBC,_they found_that swine flu's H1 gene —_the virus is technically_known_as A(H1N1) — resembles the H1_gene of strains that reach their_victims' upper respiratory tracts, but_not_their_lungs. When flu enters the_lungs, chemical fallout from a body's_immune response can_cause severe damage.

Another gene in the virus,_known_as NS1, belongs to a family_of_genes that seem to modulate immune_response._The_swine flu version resembles other_NS1 variants that trigger a mild_reaction.

Those researchers stressed the early nature of their findings,_but they fit_with Slezak and Allen's results._"The_markers_and observations appear consistent with respect to our initial observation_that the_genetic makeup is_not remarkably similar to past pandemic variants," said Allen.

One more_piece of the swine flu puzzle comes_from the laboratories of University of Edinburgh viral geneticist Andrew Rambaut_and epidemiologist Nicholas Grassly of Imperial College London.