Examining H1N1 Through Its Information Entropy [In the Spotlight]

In this article, we discuss how signal processing techniques can be used to analyze the information content of H1N1 genomic sequences, which could help in understanding this and future flu outbreaks. We first explain how the genetic code is used by the influenza virus to encode the information that is essential to viral function. Next, we demonstrate how the digital signal processing tools of decimation, periodicity, and integration are used to reveal the patterns of entropic uncertainty of that information. We propose that analysis of these patterns changing over time and space can give insight into mechanisms of regional influenza epidemics and global influenza pandemics that may help provide a basis for design of counter measures.