Human Genetics of Bird Flu

Reuters reports on the genetics of human bird flu cases:

Kida explained that people infected with H5N1 have a carbohydrate receptor on cells lining their throats. The receptor — called alpha 2,3 — is predominantly found in birds and avian influenza viruses like to bind to this class of receptors to replicate and cause disease.
Human influenza viruses, however, prefer to bind to another receptor called alpha 2,6, which is dominant in humans.
“I think people who are infected with avian strains are special. They must have alpha 2,3 receptors,” Kida said.
Although humans have some amount of alpha 2,3, Kida said alpha 2,6 was by far more “dominant” in most people.