Influenza A Research Paper
1918 saw the most famous influenza pandemic—a worldwide epidemic that caused nearly 50 million deaths—when a H1N1 influenza A virus of partial avian origin infected over one-third of the world’s population [1].
Within the last century, there have been four pandemics caused by influenza A with the most recent in 2009 when a swine-like H1N1 virus entered the human population. The increase in whole genome sequencing, computational methods, and surveillance of bird populations [2], as well as households and communities [3, 4], allow for analysis of large datasets and the ability to glimpse into the evolution of influenza. A better understanding of the dynamics of influenza A and B evolution will bring insight into flu transmission, adaptation …show more content…
Influenza A has a variety of vertebrate hosts including birds, horses, pigs, and bats [11]. In contrast, humans are almost the exclusive host for influenza B viruses, but infections in seals have also been documented [12]. Subtypes of influenza A virus are named after the two glycoproteins found on the surface of the virus, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which are respectively essential for entry into, and release from, the host cell. Aquatic birds are thought to be the primary reservoir for influenza A because they can be infected with nearly every subtype of the virus, except for the recently discovered subtypes H17N10 and H18N11 found in bats [13]. However, with the rapid evolution of influenza, the increase of influenza host range remains a cause for concern, especially in mammals, due to the higher probability of a novel strain arising that can have devastating effects on the human …show more content…
Co-circulation of different influenza viruses (both A and B) contributes to the continued evolution of influenza viruses by increasing the possibility of segment exchange to occur. Influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 have been co-circulating since 1977 [6], [11], although the seasonal H1N1 was replaced in 2009 with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain [19]. [16]. In comparison, Influenza B lineages, Yamagata and Victoria, have co-circulated since at least 1983
Within the last century, there have been four pandemics caused by influenza A with the most recent in 2009 when a swine-like H1N1 virus entered the human population. The increase in whole genome sequencing, computational methods, and surveillance of bird populations [2], as well as households and communities [3, 4], allow for analysis of large datasets and the ability to glimpse into the evolution of influenza. A better understanding of the dynamics of influenza A and B evolution will bring insight into flu transmission, adaptation …show more content…
Influenza A has a variety of vertebrate hosts including birds, horses, pigs, and bats [11]. In contrast, humans are almost the exclusive host for influenza B viruses, but infections in seals have also been documented [12]. Subtypes of influenza A virus are named after the two glycoproteins found on the surface of the virus, hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which are respectively essential for entry into, and release from, the host cell. Aquatic birds are thought to be the primary reservoir for influenza A because they can be infected with nearly every subtype of the virus, except for the recently discovered subtypes H17N10 and H18N11 found in bats [13]. However, with the rapid evolution of influenza, the increase of influenza host range remains a cause for concern, especially in mammals, due to the higher probability of a novel strain arising that can have devastating effects on the human …show more content…
Co-circulation of different influenza viruses (both A and B) contributes to the continued evolution of influenza viruses by increasing the possibility of segment exchange to occur. Influenza A subtypes H1N1 and H3N2 have been co-circulating since 1977 [6], [11], although the seasonal H1N1 was replaced in 2009 with the 2009 pandemic H1N1 strain [19]. [16]. In comparison, Influenza B lineages, Yamagata and Victoria, have co-circulated since at least 1983