influenza

1977 H1N1 influenza virus is not relevant to the gain of function debate

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The individuals who believe that certain types of gain-of-function experiments should not be done because they are too dangerous (including Lipsitch, Osterholm, Wain-Hobson,) cite the 1977 influenza virus H1N1 strain as an example of a laboratory accident that has led to a global epidemic. A new analysis shows that the reappearance of the 1997 H1N1 …

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TWiV 336: Brought to you by the letters H, N, P, and Eye

This Week in Virology / By

On episode #336 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiVsters explore mutations in the interferon pathway associated with severe influenza in a child, outbreaks of avian influenza in North American poultry farms, Ebolavirus infection of the eye weeks after recovery, and Ebolavirus stability on surfaces and in fluids. You can find TWiV …

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How influenza virus infection might lead to gastrointestinal symptoms

2 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By

Human influenza viruses replicate almost exclusively in the respiratory tract, yet infected individuals may also have gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhea. In mice, intestinal injury occurs in the absence of viral replication, and is a consequence of viral depletion of the gut microbiota. Intranasal inoculation of mice with the PR8 strain of influenza virus leads …

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The value of influenza aerosol transmission experiments

11 Comments / Basic virology, Commentary, Information / By

A Harvard epidemiologist has been on a crusade to curtail aerosol transmission experiments on avian influenza H5N1 virus because he believes that they are too dangerous and of little value. Recently he has taken his arguments to the Op-Ed pages of the New York Times. While Dr. Lipsitch is certainly entitled to his opinion, his arguments …

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Unusual mortality pattern of 1918 influenza A virus

9 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By

The 1918 influenza pandemic was particularly lethal, not only for the very young and the very old (as observed for typical influenza), but unexpectedly also for young adults, 20 to 40 years of age (pictured). It has been suggested that the increased lethality in young adults occurred because they lacked protective immunity that would be conferred …

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TWiV 282: Tamiflu and tenure too

This Week in Virology / By

On episode #282 of the science show This Week in Virology, the TWiV team reviews a meta-analysis of clinical trial reports on using Tamiflu for influenza, and suggestions on how to rescue US biomedical research from its systemic flaws. You can find TWiV #282 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

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