The genetic make-up of the iconic Australian black swan (Cygnus atratus) leaves it extremely vulnerable to viruses such as avian flu, research from the University of Queensland reports.
The threat is thought to be so severe that it could wipe out the species entirely.Ordinarily, this achievement would be something to celebrate from a scientific perspective – but a comparison with closely-related northern hemisphere white swans has revealed that certain key immune genes are missing from its DNA.
"[B]lack swans are extremely sensitive to highly pathogenic avian influenza – HPAI which is often referred to as bird flu - and can die from it within three days,""Our data suggests that the immune system of the black swan is such that, should any avian viral infection become established in its native habitat, their survival would be in peril."
It was discovered that a class of proteins in the toll-like receptor 7 family were not being activated as they should. These parts of the genomeIn other words, the gene for guarding against the bird fluThe team also identified an unregulated inflammatory response to infection that could be dangerous.
albinism in humans – it suggests the white swan is the newer variant, and that the ancestral swans of both species were black.
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