Receptor-binding specificity of HA, the major surface glycoprotein of influenza virus, primarily determines the host ranges that the virus can infect. Influenza type B virus almost exclusively infects humans and contributes to the annual "flu" sickness. Here we report the structures of influenza B virus HA in complex with human and avian receptor analogs, respectively. These structures provide ...

The sensitivity of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for the detection of antibody to influenza B virus was compared with that of the hemagglutination inhibition test on acute- and convalescence-phase sera obtained from adults and children infected with influenza B virus. Two whole virus, tissue culture-grown antigen preparations were used in the ELISA, influenza B/West Virginia/81 a...

Background & Aim: The recent study was conducted to investigate the effects of Thyme extract in drinking water on immune response of broiler chickens. Experimental:  A total of 245 day-old broiler chicks were purchased and 20 chicks were bled for determination maternal antibody and remaining chicks divided into 5 equal groups. Chickens of group A, B and C received 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2%...

Background & Aim: The recent study was conducted to investigate the effects of Thyme extract in drinking water on immune response of broiler chickens. Experimental:  A total of 245 day-old broiler chicks were purchased and 20 chicks were bled for determination maternal antibody and remaining chicks divided into 5 equal groups. Chickens of group A, B and C received 0.1%, 0.15% and 0.2%...

Background and Aims: The emergence of drug-resistant influenza viruses has become a serious threat for human and animal populations. Glycyrrhiza glabra (Gg) is a traditional medicine clinically used for the treatment of viral respiratory infection symptoms in most countries. We evaluated the effects of the herb on influenza virus replication in human lung cultured cells (A549) following the det...

We characterized influenza B virus-related neurologic manifestations in an unusually high number of hospitalized adults at a tertiary care facility in Romania during the 2014-15 influenza epidemic season. Of 32 patients with a confirmed laboratory diagnosis of influenza B virus infection, neurologic complications developed in 7 adults (median age 31 years). These complications were clinically d...

Influenza virus is among the most common causes of respiratory illness, which may manifest as a range of conditions, from mild upper respiratory tract infection to bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Acute childhood myositis associated with influenza occurs mostly in influenza B infection. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the characteristics of 197 children with influenza virus treated from Ja...

Background and Aims: Influenza is one of the main respiratory infections of humans, responsible for 300,000–500,000 annual deaths world-wide. Vaccination is one of the best ways to prevent infections including influenza. Influenza virosomes are virus-like particles, which retain the cell binding and membrane fusion properties of the native virus, but lack the ribonucleoprotein (RNP). A vi...

Background: Pandemic influenza A viruses are often zoonotic. Rapid influenza virus diagnostics can play a role in reducing pandemic virus spread. However, most diagnostic tests have not been evaluated against animal influenza viruses. Objective: To evaluate a leading rapid diagnostic test against zoonotic influenza A virus strains. Study Design: We evaluated the performance of the QuickVue® Inf...

background influenza can causes morbidity and mortality that are greatly enhanced in patients with underlying chronic diseases such as cirrhotic patients. this study was performed to assess the immunogenicity of influenza vaccination in patients with cirrhosis and inactive carriers of hepatitis b virus infection. methods in this clinical study 93 enrolled subjects divided into 3 groups: cirrhot...