The recent outbreak of avian influenza in Asia is a timely reminder of the ever present possibility of a human influenza pandemic in the near future. Work continues to develop vaccines effective against emergent influenza strains, but another component of effective prevention and infection control programs is the ability to administer vaccine in a timely and efficient manner. Even in the absenc...

Highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza virus was first detected in the People's Republic of China (China) in 1996 and has caused over 100 outbreaks of disease in poultry since 2004. The Chinese Government has pursued a vaccination strategy to control avian influenza infection in poultry. A series of vaccines including whole-virus inactivated vaccine, recombinant fowlpox vaccine and recombinant ...

An increasing number of infections of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) in humans has been reported in South-East Asia and other areas of the world. High mortality (>60%) of this viral infection and its pathosis of systemic infection are features of this new human disease. Moreover, there is great concern that this avian H5N1 virus could cause a pandemic of new influenza in humans,...

Avian influenza is an infection caused by the H5N1 virus. The infection is highly contagious among birds, and only a few known cases of human avian influenza have been documented. However, healthcare experts around the world are concerned that mutation or genetic exchange with more commonly transmitted human influenza viruses could result in a pandemic of avian influenza. Their concern remains ...

Zoonotic influenza H7 viral infections have a case fatality rate of about 40%. Currently, no or limited human to human spread has occurred, but we may be facing a severe pandemic threat if the virus acquires the ability to transmit between humans. Novel vaccines that can be rapidly produced for global distribution are urgently needed, and DNA vaccines may be the only type of vaccine that allows...

Vaccination is the most effective prophylactic method for preventing influenza. Quantification of influenza vaccine antigens is critically important before the vaccine is used for human immunization. Currently the vaccine antigen quantification relies on hemagglutinin content quantification, the key antigenic component, by single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) assay. Due to the inherent disadvan...

This study was designed to determine the extent of exposure of individuals to the avian influenza viruses by evaluating their humoral and cell-mediated immune response. Therefore blood samples were collected from three cohorts i.e. poultry related personals, healthy individuals and flu patients. Serum and PBMC analysis provided the information about humoral and cell-mediated immune responses re...

BACKGROUND The increase in recent outbreaks and unpredictable changes of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in birds and humans highlights the urgent need to develop a cross-protective H5N1 vaccine. We here report our development of a multiple-clade H5N1 influenza vaccine tested for immunogenicity and efficacy to confer cross-protection in an animal model. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FIN...

H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) has continued to spread and poses a significant threat to both animal and human health. Current influenza vaccine strategies have limitations that prevent their effective use for widespread inoculation of animals in the field. Vaccine strains of Newcastle disease virus (NDV), however, have been used successfully to easily vaccinate large numb...

BACKGROUND Sustained outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in avian species increase the risk of reassortment and adaptation to humans. The ability to contain its spread in chickens would reduce this threat and help maintain the capacity for egg-based vaccine production. While vaccines offer the potential to control avian disease, a major concern of current vaccines is thei...