Characterization of a gene coding for M proteins which is involved in host range restriction of an avian influenza A virus in monkeys.

The nucleotide sequence of the region of RNA segment 7 coding for the M1 and M2 proteins of avian influenza A/Mallard/New York/6750/78 was determined, and the deduced amino acid sequences were compared to other avian and human M protein sequences. The M2 proteins of the avian and human viruses have diverged much more than the M1 proteins, although amino acids specific for avian and human viruses were found in both M1 and M2 proteins.