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This page shows you the latest news and research items in this category.

Production of avian influenza virus vaccine using primary cell cultures generated from host organs.
Abstract The global availability of a therapeutically effective influenza virus vaccine during a pandemic remains a major challenge for the biopharmaceutical industry. Long production time, coupled with decreased supply of embryonated chicken eggs (ECE), significantly affects the conventional vaccine production. Transformed cell lines have attained regulatory approvals for vaccine production. Based on the fact that the avian influenza virus would infect the cells derived from its natural host, the viral growth characteristics were studied on chicken embryo-derived primary cell cultures. The viral propagation was de...
Source: Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology - May 23, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Babar MM, Riaz MS, Zaidi NU, Afzal F, Farooq MS Tags: J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol Source Type: research

Immunogenicity of pandemic influenza A H1N1/2009 adjuvanted vaccine in pediatric solid organ transplant recipients
Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the immunogenicity of a vaccine against this virus in a prospective cohort of transplanted pediatric patients without previous influenza infection who received one dose of MF59®‐adjuvanted pandemic H1N1/2009 vaccine. Seventeen patients who were being regularly followed up at the Outpatient Clinic of the Children's Transplant Unit (liver and kidney transplantation) in Hospital Universitari Vall d′Hebron (Barcelona) were included. Seroconversion was demonstrated in 15 of 17 (88.2%) vaccinated children. There were no rejection episodes or major adverse events. The MF59®‐adj...
Source: Pediatric Transplantation - May 20, 2013 Category: Transplant Surgery Authors: J. Gavaldà, E. Cabral, P. Perez‐Romero, O. Len, T. Aydillo, M. Campins, J. Quintero, M. Peghin, J. Nieto, R. Charco, A. Pahissa, E. Cordero, Tags: Original Article Source Type: research

The prospects and challenges of universal vaccines for influenza.
Abstract Vaccination is the most effective way to reduce the impact of epidemic as well as pandemic influenza. However, the licensed inactivated influenza vaccine induces strain-specific immunity and must be updated annually. When novel viruses appear, matched vaccines are not likely to be available in time for the first wave of a pandemic. Yet, the enormous diversity of influenza A viruses in nature makes it impossible to predict which subtype or strain will cause the next pandemic. Several recent scientific advances have generated renewed enthusiasm and hope for universal vaccines that will induce broad protectio...
Source: Trends in Microbiology - May 16, 2013 Category: Microbiology Authors: Subbarao K, Matsuoka Y Tags: Trends Microbiol Source Type: research

A New Vaccine To Protect Against Multiple Strains of H7N9 Bird Flu Virus
A vaccine that provides wider protection against multiple strains of the bird flu virus, H7N9, is currently being worked on as the outbreak in China continues to get worse. In a news conference held by the World Health Organization (WHO), they cautioned the public that the H7N9 virus, which is responsible for the present outbreak, is one of the most fatal seen in the latest years... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - May 13, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Bird Flu / Avian Flu Source Type: news

Human 4F5 single-chain Fv antibody recognizing a conserved HA1 epitope has broad neutralizing potency against H5N1 influenza A viruses of different clades.
Abstract Influenza A viruses present a significant threat to public health worldwide. High-affinity human scFv antibodies against a conserved epitope can potentially provide immunity to diverse viruses and protect against future pandemic viruses. A library of phage-displayed human scFv containing 6.0×10(8) members was generated from lymphocytes of H5N1 virus vaccinated individuals. Using the recombinant H5N1 virus hemagglutinin ectodomain (HA1), 4F5 scFv was identified with neutralizing activity against both clade 2 and 9 H5N1 viruses. In embryonated chicken eggs, the antiviral activity of 4F5 scFv conferred a 100...
Source: Antiviral Research - May 13, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Zhang X, Qi X, Zhang Q, Zeng X, Shi Z, Jin Q, Zhan F, Xu Y, Liu Z, Feng Z, Jiao Y Tags: Antiviral Res Source Type: research

Economic View: An Economic Cure for Pandemics
An outbreak of avian flu in Asia raises questions about national preparedness for pandemics. A reward system for medical innovators would be a step in the right direction, an economist says. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - May 4, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By TYLER COWEN Tags: Epidemics Inventions and Patents Drugs (Pharmaceuticals) United States Economy Avian Influenza United States Politics and Government Research China Vaccination and Immunization Source Type: news

T cell memory to evolutionarily conserved and shared hemagglutinin epitopes of H1N1 viruses: a pilot scale study
Conclusions: The current study provides a compelling evidence of HA epitope specific CD4+ T cellular memory towards A (H1N1)pdm09 strain. These well-characterized epitopes could recruit alternative immunological pathways to overcome the challenge of annual seasonal flu vaccine escape. (Source: BMC Infectious Diseases)
Source: BMC Infectious Diseases - May 4, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Venkata DuvvuriBhargavi DuvvuriVeronica JamnikJonathan GubbayJianhong WuGillian Wu Source Type: research

First H7N9 avian influenza vaccine developed
Scientists at vaccine manufacturer Greffex say they have created the first comprehensive vaccine for H7N9 avian influenza, one month after the virus was characterised. (Source: Pharmaceutical Technology)
Source: Pharmaceutical Technology - May 1, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

Why we are sitting ducks for China's bird flu
If China's bird flu acquires the ability to spread between people, we don't have the drugs or vaccines to tackle a pandemic, warns Debora MacKenzie (Source: New Scientist - Health)
Source: New Scientist - Health - May 1, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: research

Scientists concerned at H7N9 bird flu outbreak that has killed 24 people
• Virus killing a fifth of those infected in China• World Health Organisation considers it a serious threatScientists are seriously concerned about a new bird flu virus that is causing severe disease in China, killing a fifth of all those it infects.So far, the virus, known as H7N9, is being transmitted only to humans from chickens, but there are worries that it could mutate into a form that could be passed from one person to another. Five mutations are known to be necessary for that to happen – H7N9 already has two of them. If that occurred, it could spread worldwide with lethal effect.According to the World Health ...
Source: Guardian Unlimited Science - May 1, 2013 Category: Science Authors: Sarah Boseley Tags: Bird flu Asia Pacific World news Infectious diseases Health guardian.co.uk Medical research Microbiology China Editorial Science Source Type: news

Pandemic Influenza, but Not Vaccine, Increases Risk of Fetal Death
(Source: AAP Grand Rounds)
Source: AAP Grand Rounds - May 1, 2013 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tolan, R. W. Tags: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research

Combination of MEK inhibitors and oseltamivir leads to synergistic antiviral effects after influenza A virus infection in vitro.
Abstract MEK inhibitors are very potent and promising compounds in cancer therapy. Earlier investigations have demonstrated that they also possess antiviral properties against influenza virus. This is due to the fact that activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK signaling pathway is a prerequisite for influenza virus replication. As an alternative to vaccination, antiviral therapy is a means to control influenza. The appearance of influenza virus strains that are resistant to current treatment options demonstrates the need for new antiviral strategies. The aim of the presented study was to investigate whether the combination ...
Source: Antiviral Research - May 1, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Haasbach E, Hartmayer C, Planz O Tags: Antiviral Res Source Type: research

Improved high-throughput virus neutralisation assay for antibody estimation against pandemic and seasonal influenza strains from 2009 to 2011.
In conclusion, the AFRNT is rapid, highly sensitive, and fully automatable; therefore, this test is perfectly suitable for the high-throughput detection of influenza-neutralising antibodies. PMID: 23518398 [PubMed - in process] (Source: Journal of Virological Methods)
Source: Journal of Virological Methods - May 1, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Terletskaia-Ladwig E, Meier S, Enders M Tags: J Virol Methods Source Type: research

Impact of Influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 Virus on Circulation Dynamics of Seasonal Influenza Strains in Kenya.
We describe virus variations from patients with influenza-like illness before and after the appearance of influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 in Kenya during January 2008-July 2011. A total of 11,592 nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from consenting patients. Seasonal influenza B, A/H1N1, A/H3N2, A/H5N1, and influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 viruses were detected by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Of patients enrolled, 2073 (17.9%) had influenza. A total of 1,524 (73.4%) of 2,073 samples were positive for influenza A virus and 549 (26.6%) were positive for influenza B virus. Influenza B virus predominated in 2008 and ...
Source: The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene - May 1, 2013 Category: Tropical Medicine Authors: Majanja J, Njoroge RN, Achilla R, Wurapa EK, Wadegu M, Mukunzi S, Mwangi J, Njiri J, Gachara G, Bulimo W Tags: Am J Trop Med Hyg Source Type: research

Towards a universal influenza vaccine: Volunteer virus challenge studies in quarantine to speed the development and subsequent licensing
Abstract There are now more than ten experimental vaccine formulations which induce T and B cell immunity towards the internally situated virus proteins matrix (M1 and M2e) and nucleoprotein (NP), and towards stem and stalk regions of the HA which have a shared antigenic structure amongst many of the 17 influenza A virus sub types. Such “universal vaccines” could be used, at least in theory, as a prophylactic stockpile vaccine for newly emerged epidemic and novel pandemic influenza A viruses or as a supplement to conventional HA/NA vaccines. My own laboratory has approached the problem from the clinical viewpoint by id...
Source: British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology - April 25, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: J.S. Oxford Tags: Review Source Type: research

New Bird Flu Strain Spreads Outside of China
A man in Taiwan has contracted the H7N9 virus, and officials in the region are taking precautions to prevent spread to their countries. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - April 24, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By BREE FENG and DENISE GRADY Tags: Taiwan Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Avian Influenza China Vaccination and Immunization World Health Organization Source Type: news

Phase I Clinical Trial For An H5N1 Bird Flu Vaccine Shows Positive Results
IDRI (Infectious Disease Research Institute), a Seattle-based non-profit research organization that is a leading developer of adjuvants used in vaccines combating infectious disease, and Medicago Inc. (TSX: MDG; OTCQX: MDCGF), a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles (VLPs), today reported positive interim results from a Phase I clinical trial for an H5N1 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate ("H5N1 vaccine")... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 22, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Bird Flu / Avian Flu Source Type: news

Intranasal vaccination with H5, H7 and H9 hemagglutinins co-localized in a virus-like particle protects ferrets from multiple avian influenza viruses.
Abstract Avian influenza H5, H7 and H9 viruses top the World Health Organization's (WHO) list of subtypes with the greatest pandemic potential. Here we describe a recombinant virus-like particle (VLP) that co-localizes hemagglutinin (HA) proteins derived from H5N1, H7N2, and H9N2 viruses as an experimental vaccine against these viruses. A baculovirus vector was configured to co-express the H5, H7, and H9 genes from A/Viet Nam/1203/2004 (H5N1), A/New York/107/2003 (H7N2) and A/Hong Kong/33982/2009 (H9N2) viruses, respectively, as well as neuraminidase (NA) and matrix (M1) genes from A/Puerto Rico/8/1934 (H1N1) virus...
Source: Virology - April 22, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Tretyakova I, Pearce MB, Florese R, Tumpey TM, Pushko P Tags: Virology Source Type: research

Prevention and control of highly pathogenic avian influenza with particular reference to H5N1.
Abstract Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the H5N1 subtype emerged in Far East Asia in 1996 and spread in three continents in a period of 10 or less years. Before this event, avian influenza infections caused by highly pathogenic viruses had occurred in many different countries, causing minor or major outbreaks, and had always been eradicated. The unique features of these H5N1 viruses combined to the geographic characteristics of the area of emergence, including animal husbandry practices, has caused this subtype to become endemic in several Asian countries, as well as in Egypt. Our aim is to review the...
Source: Virus Research - April 21, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Capua I, Cattoli G Tags: Virus Res Source Type: research

IDRI and Medicago report positive results for Phase I clinical trial for an H5N1 vaccine
(Infectious Disease Research Institute) IDRI and Medicago Inc. today reported positive interim results from a Phase I clinical trial for an H5N1 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate. The results were announced at the World Vaccine Congress in Washington, D.C. The H5N1 vaccine was found to be safe and well-tolerated and induced a solid immune response exceeding the three Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use immunogenicity criteria for licensure of influenza vaccines. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 17, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

New technology speeding progress on bird flu vaccine
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Even as U.S. officials this week awaited the arrival of a sample of the new bird flu virus from China - typically the first step in making a flu vaccine - government-backed researchers had already begun testing a "seed" strain of the virus made from the genetic code posted on the Internet. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 12, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

New Technology Speeding Progress on Bird Flu VaccineNew Technology Speeding Progress on Bird Flu Vaccine
Even as U.S. officials awaited the arrival of a sample of the new bird flu virus from China, researchers had already begun testing a 'seed' strain of the virus made from the genetic code posted on the Internet. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - April 12, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news

Vaccine to Fight New Bird Flu Strain Could Be Elusive
Developing a vaccine to protect people from the new H7N9 flu virus could prove to be especially difficult, flu experts from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. (Source: WSJ.com: Health)
Source: WSJ.com: Health - April 12, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Tags: PAID Source Type: news

Bird flu vaccine 'many months' away: US experts
US public health experts said developing a vaccine for the H7N9 strain of bird flu could take "many months". (Source: The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News)
Source: The Economic Times Healthcare and Biotech News - April 12, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

New technology speeding progress on bird flu vaccine
CHICAGO (Reuters) - Even as U.S. officials this week awaited the arrival of a sample of the new bird flu virus from China - typically the first step in making a flu vaccine - government-backed researchers had already begun testing a "seed" strain of the virus made from the genetic code posted on the Internet. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

New Technology Speeding Progress on Bird Flu Vaccine
Even as U.S. officials this week awaited the arrival of a sample of the new bird flu virus from China - typically the first step in making a flu vaccine - government-backed researchers had already begun testing a "seed" strain of the virus made from the genetic code posted on the Internet.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Pages: Bird Flu, Immunization (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - April 11, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

Discovery That Small Genetic Changes Enable The H5N1 Bird Flu Virus To Replicate More Easily In The Noses Of Mammals Could Lead To Vaccine
So far there have only been isolated cases of bird flu in humans, and no widespread transmission as the H5N1 virus can't replicate efficiently in the nose. The new study, using weakened viruses in the lab, supports the conclusions of controversial research published in 2012 which demonstrated that just a few genetic mutations could enable bird flu to spread between ferrets, which are used to model flu infection in humans. Researchers say the new findings could help to develop more effective vaccines against new strains of bird flu that can spread between humans... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - April 10, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Bird Flu / Avian Flu Source Type: news

China bird flu toll reaches nine
SHANGHAI (Reuters) - The death toll in China from a new strain of bird flu rose to nine on Tuesday, said state media, who also quoted Chinese authorities saying a vaccine should be ready within months. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 9, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

IDRI and Medicago to present data at the World Vaccine Congress
(Infectious Disease Research Institute) IDRI, a Seattle-based non-profit research organization that is a leading developer of adjuvants used in vaccines combating infectious disease, and Medicago Inc., a biopharmaceutical company focused on developing highly effective and competitive vaccines based on proprietary manufacturing technologies and Virus-Like Particles, will present positive interim Phase I clinical results for their H5N1 Avian Influenza VLP vaccine candidate. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 9, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Bird flu mutation study offers vaccine clue
(Imperial College London) Scientists have described small genetic changes that enable the H5N1 bird flu virus to replicate more easily in the noses of mammals. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 8, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

CDC on Trail of Vaccine for New Bird Flu
(MedPage Today) -- As the number of cases of a novel bird flu rises in China, the CDC is taking early steps toward a vaccine. (Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease)
Source: MedPage Today Infectious Disease - April 5, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: news

C.D.C. Has Begun Work on Vaccine for New China Flu
Health officials say that as a precaution they are formulating a vaccine for the mysterious new H7N9 flu. (Source: NYT Health)
Source: NYT Health - April 5, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr. and ANDREW JACOBS Tags: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Avian Influenza China Vaccination and Immunization Source Type: news

CDC Monitoring Bird Flu, Prepping Vaccine Just in Case
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday it was monitoring a new strain of bird flu and has started work on a vaccine just in case it is needed. So far, the strain known as avian influenza A (H7N9) has only been found in China and does not appear to be capable of being passed from person to person. (Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health)
Source: RWJF News Digest - Public Health - April 5, 2013 Category: American Health Source Type: news

US Says Following New Flu Closely, Preparing VaccineUS Says Following New Flu Closely, Preparing Vaccine
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday it was monitoring a new strain of bird flu and has started work on a vaccine just in case it is needed. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Today Headlines)
Source: Medscape Today Headlines - April 4, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news

U.S. says following new bird flu closely, preparing vaccine
CHICAGO (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday it was monitoring a new strain of bird flu and has started work on a vaccine just in case it is needed. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - April 4, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

U.S. Says Following New Bird Flu Closely, Preparing Vaccine
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Thursday it was monitoring a new strain of bird flu and has started work on a vaccine just in case it is needed.Source: Reuters Health Related MedlinePlus Page: Bird Flu (Source: MedlinePlus Health News)
Source: MedlinePlus Health News - April 4, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news

World Experts Debate Case for New Bird Flu VaccineWorld Experts Debate Case for New Bird Flu Vaccine
Experts from around the world are in daily talks about the threat posed by a deadly new strain of bird flu in China, including discussions on if and when to start making a vaccine. Reuters Health Information (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - April 4, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Source Type: news

Clinical Notes: Bird Flu Vaccine Delayed at FDA
(MedPage Today) -- An "administrative matter" blocked approval of a vaccine against potentially pandemic avian influenza, its manufacturer said. Also this week: smokers with lung cancer don't get help in quitting. (Source: MedPage Today Dermatology)
Source: MedPage Today Dermatology - March 31, 2013 Category: Dermatology Source Type: news

Newly Designed Vaccine Blocks H5 Avian Influenza In Animal Models
Until now most experimental vaccines against the highly lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus have lacked effectiveness. But a new vaccine has proven highly effective against the virus when tested in both mice and ferrets. It is also effective against the H9 subtype of avian influenza. The research is published online ahead of print in the Journal of Virology. The strength of the new vaccine is that it uses attenuated, rather than "killed" virus. (Killed viruses are broken apart with chemicals or heat, and they are used because they are safer than attenuated viruses... (Source: Health News from Medical News Today)
Source: Health News from Medical News Today - March 27, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Bird Flu / Avian Flu Source Type: news

Molecular and phylogenetic analysis of influenza A H1N1 pandemic viruses in Cuba, May 2009 to August 2010
Summary: The influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 virus was detected in Cuba in May 2009. The introduction of a new virus with increased transmissibility into a population makes surveillance of the pandemic strain to the molecular level necessary. The aim of the present study was the molecular and phylogenetic analysis of pandemic influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 strains that circulated in Cuba between May 2009 and August 2010. Seventy clinical samples were included in the study. Nucleotide sequences from the hemagglutinin HA1 region segment were obtained directly from clinical samples. Genetic distances were calculated using MEGA v.5.05. A phylo...
Source: International Journal of Infectious Diseases - March 26, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Alexander Piñón Ramos, Belsy Acosta Herrera, Odalys Valdés Ramírez, Amely Arencibia García, Mayra Muné Jiménez, Clara Savón Valdés, Angel Goyenechea Fernández, Grehete González, Suset I. Oropesa Fernández, Guelsys González Báez, Bárbara Her Tags: Short Communication Source Type: research

FDA delays approval of GSK bird flu vaccine
LONDON (Reuters) - Regulators have delayed approval of an H5N1 bird flu vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline, designed to be used in a pandemic. (Source: Reuters: Health)
Source: Reuters: Health - March 25, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: healthNews Source Type: news

Regulatory update: GlaxoSmithKline receives complete response from FDA for candidate pandemic H5N1 adjuvanted influenza vaccine
GlaxoSmithKline [NYSE:GSK] announced today that it has received a Complete Response letter from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in response to the Biologics License Application (BLA) for its Pandemic Influenza A Virus Monovalent Adjuvanted candidate vaccine, referred to as Q-Pan H5N1. (Source: GSK news)
Source: GSK news - March 25, 2013 Category: Pharmaceuticals Source Type: news

Cleverly designed vaccine blocks H5 avian influenza in models
(American Society for Microbiology) Until now, most experimental vaccines against the highly lethal H5N1 avian influenza virus have lacked effectiveness. But a new vaccine has proven highly effective against the virus when tested in both mice and ferrets. It is also effective against the H9 subtype of avian influenza. The research is published online ahead of print in the Journal of Virology. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - March 25, 2013 Category: Global & Universal Source Type: news

Canadian national surveys on pandemic influenza preparations: pre-pandemic and peri-pandemic findings
Conclusions: Results suggest Canadians trust public health officials to make difficult decisions, providing emphasis is maintained on reciprocity and respect for individual rights. Canadians also support international obligations to help poorer countries and associated efforts to save lives outside the country, even if intra-national efforts are reduced. (Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles)
Source: BMC Public Health - Latest articles - March 25, 2013 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Paul RitvoDaniel PerezKumanan WilsonJennifer GibsonCrissa GugliettiShawn TracyCecile BensimonRoss Upshur Source Type: research

Vaccination of gallinaceous poultry for H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza: Current questions and new technology.
Abstract Vaccination of poultry for avian influenza virus (AIV) is a complex topic as there are numerous technical, logistic and regulatory aspects which must be considered. Historically, control of high pathogenicity (HP) AIV infection in poultry has been accomplished by eradication and stamping out when outbreaks occur locally. Since the H5N1 HPAIV from Asia has spread and become enzootic, vaccination has been used on a long-term basis by some countries to control the virus, other countries have used it temporarily to aid eradication efforts, while others have not used it at all. Currently, H5N1 HPAIV is consider...
Source: Virus Research - March 21, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Spackman E, Swayne DE Tags: Virus Res Source Type: research

Clinical symptoms, immune factors, and molecular characteristics of an adult male in Shenzhen, China infected with influenza virus H5N1
Abstract On December 29, 2011, a man infected with a subclade of the H5N1 virus was confirmed in Shenzhen, China. The clinical symptoms and immune factors of the patient were investigated and the phylogenetic and molecular characteristics of the virus were analyzed. High fever, rapid development of serious pneumonia and multi‐organ failure were the main clinical symptoms. Arterial blood gas analysis showed that PaCO2 rose sharply and PO2 decreased. Leukocyte and platelet counts decreased rapidly. Peripheral blood lymphocyte counts indicated lymphopenia and inverted ratios of CD4+ to CD8+ cells. Cytokine analysis showed t...
Source: Journal of Medical Virology - March 18, 2013 Category: Virology Authors: Chunli Wu, Xing Lu, Xin Wang, Tao Jin, Xiaowen Cheng, Shisong Fang, Xiaohui Wang, Hanwu Ma, Renli Zhang, Jinquan Cheng Tags: Research Article Source Type: research

Predicting hotspots for future flu outbreaks
This year's unusually long and rocky flu season would be nothing compared to the pandemic that could occur if bird flu became highly contagious among humans, which is why UCLA researchers and their colleagues are creating new ways to predict where an outbreak could emerge. "Using surveillance of influenza cases in humans and birds, we've come up with a technique to predict sites where these viruses could mix and generate a future pandemic," said lead author Trevon Fuller, a UCLA postdoctoral research fellow at the Institute of the Environment and Sustainability's Center for Tropical Research. The researchers'...
Source: UCLA Newsroom: Health Sciences - March 13, 2013 Category: Universities & Medical Training Source Type: news

L-Carnosine Modulates Respiratory Burst and Reactive Oxygen Species Production in Neutrophil Biochemistry and Function: May Oral Dosage Form of Non-Hydrolized Dipeptide L-Carnosine Complement Anti-Infective Anti-Influenza Flu Treatment, Prevention and Self-Care as an Alternative to the Conventional Vaccination ?
Abstract Influenza A is a viral disease of global dimension, presenting with high morbidity and mortality in annual epidemics, and in pandemics which are of infrequent occurrence but which have very high attack rates. Influenza vaccines of the future must be directed toward use of conserved group-specific viral antigens, such as are present in transitional proteins which are exposed during the fusion of virus to the host cell. Influenza probes reveal a continuing battle for survival between host and parasite in which the host population updates the specificity of its pool of humoral immunity by contact with and res...
Source: Current Clinical Pharmacology - February 20, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Babizhayev MA, Deyev AI, Yegorov YE Tags: Curr Clin Pharmacol Source Type: research

[Articles] Safety and immunogenicity of an oral, replicating adenovirus serotype 4 vector vaccine for H5N1 influenza: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 1 study
Oral Ad4 vector priming might enhance the efficacy of poorly immunogenic vaccines such as H5N1. (Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases)
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - February 19, 2013 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Marc Gurwith, Michael Lock, Eve M Taylor, Glenn Ishioka, Jeff Alexander, Tim Mayall, John E Ervin, Richard N Greenberg, Cynthia Strout, John J Treanor, Richard Webby, Peter F Wright Tags: Articles Source Type: research