A study has successfully reconstructed a complete influenza A virus genome from a Swiss patient who died in July 1918, revealing significant mutations that indicate early human adaptation during the pandemic. Utilizing a ligation-based RNA sequencing protocol, researchers analyzed a sample from an 18-year-old, identifying key substitutions at nucleoprotein positions linked to reduced antiviral susceptibility and human receptor binding. Phylogenetic analysis placed the genome within a historical context, demonstrating diversity among strains during the pandemic's initial waves.
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