New Technology Could Head Off Bird Flu

A new microarray can, within hours, pinpoint pathogens that can infect humans. The technology is widely available to researchers for free.

PORTLAND, Ore. — A new technology offers advance warning of the ability of a virus to infect humans. The technique could help stem the spread of bird flu, according to the inventors of glycan microarray technology.

The Consortium for Functional Glycomics, a project of the National Institute of Health's National Institute of General Medical Sciences, is making the technology widely available to researchers for free. The microarray can pinpoint pathogens in a few hours that can infect humans.

"Its like any other medical microarray, but instead of depositing little spots of DNA, we put down carbohydrates called glycans which virus cells bind to," said Jeremy Berg, director of the National Institute of General Medical Sciences. "Most cells are coated with carbohydrates and our technology allows hundreds of different varieties to be put down on a single glycan array."