Background and Aims: Virus-like particles (VLPs) have been suggested to be a promising recombinant vaccine approach. Several studies have reported that the influenza VLPs produced in insect cells is an effective vaccine candidate. Due to crucial role of matrix M1 protein in assembly and budding of Influenza particles, in all VLPs structures, M1 protein have been considered as a main component. ...

High morbidity and mortality of influenza virus infection makes it an important disease world-wide. Mouse is a very well-studied animal model for this disease with similar manifestation to human disease. It would be desirable to induce mucosal as well as circulating immune responses to obtain protection from infection and to decrease the spread of the virus. Cell mediated immunity (proliferativ...

The emergence of H5, H7, and H9 avian influenza virus subtypes in humans reveals their pandemic potential. Although human-to-human transmission has been limited, the genetic reassortment of the avian and human/porcine influenza viruses or mutations in some of the genes resulting in virus replication in the upper respiratory tract of humans could generate novel pandemic influenza viruses. Curren...

The successful isolation of a human influenza virus in 1933 was soon followed by the first attempts to develop an influenza vaccine. Nowadays, vaccination is still the most effective method to prevent human influenza disease. However, licensed influenza vaccines offer protection against antigenically matching viruses, and the composition of these vaccines needs to be updated nearly every year. ...

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There is a need to develop a universal vaccine against influenza virus infection to avoid developing new formulations of a seasonal vaccine each year. Many of the vaccine strategies for a universal vaccine target strain-conserved influenza virus proteins, such as the matrix, polymerase, and nucleoproteins, rather than the surface hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins. In addition, non-diseas...

AIM The evidence needed for tropical countries to take informed decisions on influenza vaccination is scarce. This article reviews policy, availability, use and effectiveness of seasonal influenza vaccine in tropical and subtropical countries. METHOD Global health databases were searched in three thematic areas - policy, availability and protective benefits in the context of human seasonal in...

Since influenza may be prevented by vaccine, development and successful implementation of public health programs to prevent spread of a potential avian influenza strain relies upon vaccination as a strategic cornerstone. Although both the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)† and the World Health Organization (WHO) highlight the role of influenza vaccination as the core of an effective...