Munir Iqbal

In the Avian Influenza Group we study the evolution and disease-causing capacity (pathogenicity) of avian influenza viruses, to contribute to the development of control measures for poultry. Amongst our objectives are the following: Identifying, at the gene level, the events involved in the evolution of high pathogenicity avian influenza viruses from low pathogenicity ones, and in the spread from individuals to populations of birds. The genes in question are those for the two proteins at the surface of influenza virus, the haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). Understanding how avian inf