Intervention Monitoring

Viral recombination is facilitated by genetic diversity.  By assessing genetic instability, intervention strategies can be developed and monitored.  The current spread of avian flu in Asia is a good example of genetic instability. 

This instability is creating an increase in genetic variation. This leads to new recombinants, which are expanding host ranges and tissue tropism.  The recombinants have already acquired human sequences, which create significant health concerns for people around the globe.