Influenza Research 2022

Flu: Immunology & Genetics

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Immune responses to viral infections involve a complex orchestration between innate signals and adaptive responses of specific T and B cells. Advances in T-Cell Therapies and several antiviral compounds have been developed against influenza virus to interfere with specific events in the replication cycle. Among them, the inhibitors of viral uncoating (amantadine), nucleoside inhibitors (ribavirin), viral transcription and neuraminidase inhibitors (zanamivir and oseltamivir) are reported as examples of traditional virus-based antiviral strategies. Thus, the discovery of novel anti-influenza drugs that target general cell signaling pathways essential for viral replication, irrespective to the specific origin of the virus, would decrease the emergence of drug resistance and increase the effectiveness towards different strains of influenza virus. The genome of an influenza virus particle is encased in a capsid that consists of protein. The influenza A capsid contains the antigenic glycoproteins hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). For genetic analysis Genome sequencing is used which is the process that determines the order, or sequence, of the nucleotides in each of the genes present in the virus’s genome. There are Next Generation Sequencing and Sanger reaction available methods for genome sequencing. Influenza viruses undergo continual antigenic variation, which requires the annual reformulation of trivalent influenza vaccines, making influenza unique among pathogens for which vaccines have been developed. Reverse genetics techniques are also proving to be important for the development of pandemic influenza vaccines, because the technology provides a means to modify genes to remove virulence determinants found in highly pathogenic avian strains.