Resurrected (1918) Pandemic Influenza Viruses

Summary

Wednesday, 18 November 2009 14:10

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Resurrected Pandemic Influenza Viruses

Terrence M. Tumpey and Jessica A. Belser

In humans, influenza is a highly contagious respiratory disease caused by an RNA virus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. Influenza A viruses are classified into subtypes on the basis of the anti- genicity of their surface glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). 16 HA and 9 NA subtypes are known to exist (22), and among them H1, H2, and H3 subtypes have caused pandemics. Influenza A viruses of the H1N1 subtype, descendants of the 1918 pandemic strain, circulated in humans from 1918 to 1956. After their disappearance in 1957, H1N1 viruses reappeared in the human population in 1977 and continue to cocirculate along with H3N2 subtype viruses (descendants of the 1968 pandemic strain) and influenza B viruses.

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