The neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs) oseltamivir and zanamivir are commonly used for the treatment and control of influenza A and B virus infection. However, the emergence of new influenza virus strains with reduced susceptibility to NAIs may appear with the use of these antivirals or even naturally. We therefore screened the neuraminidase (NA) sequences of seasonal influenza virus A(H1N1), A(H1...

We have succeeded in engineering changes into the genome of influenza B virus. First, model RNAs containing the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene flanked by the noncoding sequences of the HA or NS genes of influenza B virus were transfected into cells which were previously infected with an influenza B helper virus. Like those of the influenza A viruses, the termini of influenza B virus gen...

Viruses can exploit a variety of strategies to evade immune surveillance by cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL), including the acquisition of mutations in or adjacent to CTL epitopes. Recently, an amino acid substitution (R384G) in an HLA-B*2705-restricted CTL epitope in the influenza A virus nucleoprotein (nucleoprotein containing residues 383 to 391 [NP(383-391)]; SRYWAIRTR, where R is the residue ...

Influenza activity in Europe during the winter 2005-2006 started late January - early February 2006 and first occurred in the Netherlands, France, Greece and England. Subsequently, countries were affected in a random pattern across Europe and the period of influenza activity lasted till the end of April. In contrast to the winter seasons in the period 2001-2005, no west-east pattern was detecte...

The cobas® Liat® Influenza A/B and respiratory syncytial virus assay was tested on nasopharyngeal aspirates. resolution of invalid samples performed using a preanalytical step. can be used aspirates with processing step, slightly diminished performances in detecting but not for influenza.

Comparative analysis of the amino acid sequences of hemagglutinins (HAs) of influenza B/Lee/40, B/Md/59, and B/HK/73 viruses has allowed examination of the molecular basis of antigenic variation in type B viruses. As seen with influenza type A viruses, antigenic drift in influenza B viruses proceeds mostly through the accumulation of amino acid substitutions within the HA1 portion of the HA mol...

BACKGROUND Virus-inducible reporter genes have been used as the basis of virus detection and quantitation assays for a number of viruses. A strategy for influenza A virus-induction of a reporter gene was recently described. In this report, we describe the extension of this strategy to influenza B virus, the generation of stable cell lines with influenza A and B virus-inducible reporter genes, a...

There is an urgent need for new drugs against influenza type A and B viruses due to incomplete protection by vaccines and the emergence of resistance to current antivirals. The influenza virus polymerase complex, consisting of the PB1, PB2 and PA subunits, represents a promising target for the development of new drugs. We have previously demonstrated the feasibility of targeting the protein-pro...