The accession number of MV N is P04851. Secondary structure predictions were carried out using both PSI-PRED (McGuffin et al. 2000) and PHD (Rost 1996) . L. Kingston for kindly providing us with the PDB file of the chimeric construct between XD and the N TAIL peptide (PDB code 1T6O). This study has been carried out with financial support from the Commission of the European Communities, specific RTD program ''Quality of Life and Management of Living Resources,'' QLK2-CT2001-01225, ''Towards the design of new potent antiviral drugs: Structure-function analysis of Paramyxoviridae RNA polymerase.'' It does not necessarily reflect its views, and in no way anticipates the Commission's future policy in this area. This work was also in part supported by the CNRS and by funds from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (R01 NS31693). A survey of knowledge, attitudes and practices towards avian influenza in an adult population of Italy BACKGROUND: Several public health strategic interventions are required for effective prevention and control of avian influenza (AI) and it is necessary to create a communication plan to keep families adequately informed on how to avoid or reduce exposure. This investigation determined the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors relating to AI among an adult population in Italy. METHODS: From December 2005 to February 2006 a random sample of 1020 adults received a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge of transmission and prevention about AI, attitudes towards AI, behaviors regarding use of preventive measures and food-handling practices, and sources of information about AI. RESULTS: A response rate of 67% was achieved. Those in higher socioeconomic classes were more likely to identify the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI. Those older, who knew the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI, and who still need information, were more likely to know that washing hands soap before and after touching raw poultry meat and using gloves is recommended to avoid spreading of AI through food. The risk of being infected was significantly higher in those from lower socioeconomic classes, if they did not know the definition of AI, if they knew that AI could be transmitted by eating and touching raw eggs and poultry foods, and if they did not need information. Compliance with the hygienic practices during handling of raw poultry meat was more likely in those who perceived to be at higher risk, who knew the hygienic practices, who knew the modes of transmission and the animals' vehicles for AI, and who received information from health professionals and scientific journals. CONCLUSION: Respondents demonstrate no detailed understanding of AI, a greater perceived risk, and a lower compliance with precautions behaviors and health educational strategies are strongly needed. The first known direct avian to human transmission of influenza A (subtype H5N1) viruses was reported during an outbreak in Hong Kong in 1997 and exposure to infected poultry was identified as the probable route of transmission [1] [2] [3] .