Viral factors in influenza pandemic risk assessment
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
The threat of an influenza A virus pandemic stems from continual virus spillovers from reservoir species, a tiny fraction of which spark sustained transmission in humans. To date, no pandemic emergence of a new influenza strain has been preceded by detection of a closely related precursor in an animal or human. Nonetheless, influenza surveillance efforts are expanding, prompting a need for tools to assess the pandemic risk posed by a detected virus. The goal would be to use genetic sequence and/or biological assays of viral traits to identify those non-human influenza viruses with the greatest risk of evolving into pandemic threats, and/or to understand drivers of such evolution, to prioritize pandemic prevention or response measures. We describe such efforts, identify progress and ongoing challenges, and discuss three specific traits of influenza viruses (hemagglutinin receptor binding specificity, hemagglutinin pH of activation, and polymerase complex efficiency) that contribute to pandemic risk.
Date Issued
2016-11-11
Date Acceptance
2016-11-03
Citation
eLife, 2016, 5
ISSN
2050-084X
Publisher
eLife Sciences Publications
Journal / Book Title
eLife
Volume
5
Copyright Statement
This is an open-access article,
free of all copyright, and may be
freely reproduced, distributed,
transmitted, modified, built
upon, or otherwise used by
anyone for any lawful purpose.
The work is made available under
the Creative Commons CC0
public domain dedication.
free of all copyright, and may be
freely reproduced, distributed,
transmitted, modified, built
upon, or otherwise used by
anyone for any lawful purpose.
The work is made available under
the Creative Commons CC0
public domain dedication.
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Identifier
http://gateway.webofknowledge.com/gateway/Gateway.cgi?GWVersion=2&SrcApp=PARTNER_APP&SrcAuth=LinksAMR&KeyUT=WOS:000391276700001&DestLinkType=FullRecord&DestApp=ALL_WOS&UsrCustomerID=1ba7043ffcc86c417c072aa74d649202
Grant Number
MR/K010174/1B
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Biology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine - Other Topics
RECEPTOR-BINDING PROPERTIES
UPPER RESPIRATORY-TRACT
SINGLE AMINO-ACID
A H7N9 VIRUS
MEMBRANE-FUSION
HEMAGGLUTININ PROTEIN
HONG-KONG
POULTRY WORKERS
HUMAN INFECTION
A(H7N9) VIRUS
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN e18491