Antivirals Targeting Influenza A Virus
Antivirals Targeting Influenza A Virus
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DOI:
10.1021/jm300455c
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发表时间:
2012-07-26
影响因子:
7.3
通讯作者:
Das, Kalyan
中科院分区:
文献类型:
--
作者:
Das, Kalyan
Flu is caused by influenza viruses. The primary defense against influenza A and B is through vaccination. Seasonal flu viruses constantly undergo antigenic variations by changing their surface glycoprotein hemagglutinin (HA or H). The flu vaccines are reformulated each year to match antigenic variations. The formulations are recommended by public health organizations such as WHO, CDC, and FDA. 1 Each year, the predominant strains expected to dominate the coming flu season are predicted based on global surveillance and analysis of circulating strains. For example, the strains selected for the 2011− 2012 flu season are A/California/7/09 (H1N1-pandemic), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2), and B/Brisbane/60/2008 (http://www. fda. gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm263319. htm). Influenza A is responsible for pandemic flu. Influenza A subtypes are characterized by two different surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (HA or H) and neuraminidase (NA or N). Wild birds are the reservoir of influenza A viruses. Avian strains are periodically migrated into the pool of virus circulating in mammals including humans, and reassortments of genomic RNA segments from human and avian influenza A viruses can lead to emergence of pandemic strains. 2 Also, an avian strain can adapt to the human host and attain human-to-human transmission capability through acquired mutations. An unexpected human adaptation of an influenza subtype or strain other than currently circulating influenza viruses causes pandemic flu. The pandemics of 1918 H1N1 (Spanish flu), 1957 H2N2 (Asian flu), 1968 H3N2 (Hong Kong flu), 2005 H5N1 (bird flu), and 2009 H1N1 (swine flu) symbolize the devastating public health and socioeconomic impacts of pandemic flu and keep us alert for any such outbreak. Adaptation of 2005 H5N1 virus for human-to-human transmission and emergence of Tamiflu-resistant influenza A viruses are among the imminent threats. Additionally, seasonal flu is responsible for about 50 000 deaths per year.