Influenza and the challenge for immunology

The continued westward dissemination of H5N1 influenza A viruses in avian populations and the nearly 50% mortality rate of humans infected with H5N1 are a source of great international concern. A mutant H5N1 virus with the capability to spread rapidly between humans could cause a global catastrophe....

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature Immunology 2006-05, Vol.7 (5), p.449-455
Main Authors: Doherty, Peter C, Turner, Stephen J, Webby, Richard G, Thomas, Paul G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Antiviral Agents - therapeutic use
Biomedical and Life Sciences
Biomedicine
Bird populations
Birds - virology
Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control
Humans
Immunology
Infectious Diseases
Influenza A virus
Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype - immunology
Influenza Vaccines - therapeutic use
Influenza, Human - epidemiology
Influenza, Human - immunology
Influenza, Human - prevention & control
Mammals
Mortality
review-article
Vaccines
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Summary:The continued westward dissemination of H5N1 influenza A viruses in avian populations and the nearly 50% mortality rate of humans infected with H5N1 are a source of great international concern. A mutant H5N1 virus with the capability to spread rapidly between humans could cause a global catastrophe. Governments have reacted by developing national response plans, stockpiling antiviral drugs and speeding up the development and approval of vaccines. Here we summarize what is known about the interaction between influenza A viruses and the mammalian host response, specifically emphasizing issues that might be of interest to the broader immunology community.
ISSN:1529-2908
1529-2916
1365-2567
DOI:10.1038/ni1343