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Variation and infectivity neutralization in influenza
Author(s) -
Knossow Marcel,
Skehel John J.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.297
H-Index - 133
eISSN - 1365-2567
pISSN - 0019-2805
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2567.2006.02421.x
Subject(s) - infectivity , virology , biology , neutralization , h5n1 genetic structure , virus , waterfowl , population , glycoprotein , influenza a virus subtype h5n1 , pandemic , antibody , antigen , covid-19 , immunology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , genetics , medicine , ecology , disease , environmental health , pathology , habitat
Summary Worldwide epidemics of influenza are caused by viruses that normally infect other species, particularly waterfowl, and that contain haemagglutinin membrane glycoproteins (HAs) to which the human population has no immunity. Anti‐HA immunoglobulins neutralize influenza virus infectivity. In this review we outline structural differences that distinguish the HAs of the 16 antigenic subtypes (H1–16) found in viruses from avian species. We also describe structural changes in HA required for the effective transfer to humans of viruses containing three of them, H1, H2 and H3, in the 1918 (Spanish), the 1957 (Asian) and the 1968 (Hong Kong) pandemics, respectively. In addition, we consider changes that may be required before the current avian H5 viruses could pass from human to human.