A newly identified genetic variation in the IFITM3 gene has been associated with the severity of influenza in US patients, and could have predictive value to identify high-risk individuals.
Researchers have identified the primary enzymatic source of reactive oxygen species in humans, discovering that this enzyme exacerbates viral pathogenicity and suggesting that it could be an antiviral target.
The threat of future influenza pandemics demands that public health, governments and health care providers grapple with complex communication challenges. Read more on attitudes towards influenza in our latest opinion piece.
A Phase I clinical trial has demonstrated that microneedle patches for flu vaccinations are safe, well-tolerated, immunogenic and also preferred by participants over intramuscular injection.
Researchers have discovered that investigational cancer drug, BEZ235, may reduce the severity of influenza infection by altering host-cell metabolism, representing new treatment avenues.
Recent studies suggest that the risk of a heart attack could be increased 17-fold during the 7 days after a respiratory infection.
Researchers have developed a transgenic mouse model to identify influenza A strains with the potential to cause a global pandemic.
Despite an urgent need for a universal flu vaccine there is no such vaccine in the market and no regulatory guideline for its approval. This special report from Future Virology proposes a stepwise process for regulatory and marketing approval for such a vaccine and discusses the epitope-based vaccine candidate Multimeric-001 (M-001).
New study in mouse models suggests immune adaptation in pregnancy reduces the antiviral response allowing the influenza virus to mutate to more virulent strains and causing more severe infections.
The first study to investigate attitudes to the child flu vaccine in the UK has reported that concerns around the vaccines safety, efficiency and side effects may be reducing uptake.
