Consider the possibility of a mutation occurring in a strain of avian influenza virus which enables the bird-specific strain to readily infect humans.Such a mutation would most likely result in changes within the _________.

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The HA (hemagglutinin) protein is responsible for binding the virus to receptor sites on host cells. Changes in this protein can alter the virus's ability to infect different species or individuals within a species, and it is a key target for vaccine development. A mutation that enables avian influenza to easily infect humans would likely involve changes in the HA protein.

Consider the Possibility of a Mutation Occurring in a Strain