Molecular events leading to the creation of a pandemic influenza virus

Abstract

Infl uenza A virus is a potent pathogen of annual respiratory illness with huge potential of causing occasional pandemics of catastrophic consequences. In April 2009, a novel, swine-origin infl uenza A H1N1/09 virus was identifi ed in Mexico which continued to spread globally. This unique virus emerged from an avian, human, Eurasian swine viral strain and a North American swine strain belonging to the lineage of the 1930 swine virus. Till date H1N1/09 pandemic has been relatively mild and lacks the previously described molecular markers of infl uenza A pathogenicity and transmissibility. In this review, we will discuss the molecular and antigenic determinants of this virus and its designation as a low pathogenic strain, which carries the potential to develop into a devastating strain with subsequent mutations and reassortments.

Influenza A viral nucleoprotein interacts with cytoskeleton scaffolding protein α‐actinin‐4 for viral replication

“…Influenza A virus (IAV) is a member of the Orthomyxoviridae family comprising of an eight‐segmented, negative sense, single‐strand RNA genome. The eight segments, encapsulated by the nucleoprotein (NP), encode ~ 13 known proteins . IAVs are further classified on the basis of antigenically different surface glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase; 17 HA and 10 neuraminidase subtypes have been described to date.…”

Compulsory licensing in pharmaceutical industry

“…of the virus because they have receptors for both avian and human IV (2,3-sialic acids and 2,6-sialic acids, respectively) [63,64]. Pigs are effective "mixing tanks" for the virus, a source of new reassortants that have mixed (recombinant) genomes and can cause another pandemic [61].…”

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“…Some strains of IV circulate in human populations (H1N1, H3N2), pigs (H1N1, H1N2), horses (H3N8, H7N7) and dogs (H3N8) [62]. Pigs have become a major reservoir for the pandemic strains of the virus because they have receptors for both avian and human IV (2,3-sialic acids and 2,6-sialic acids, respectively) [63,64]. Pigs are effective "mixing tanks" for the virus, a source of new reassortants that have mixed (recombinant) genomes and can cause another pandemic [61].…”