tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Curr Opin Virol. 2011 Dec;1(6):635-642. Epub 2011 Sep 3.
Predicting 'airborne' influenza viruses: (trans-) mission impossible?
Sorrell E, Schrauwen E, Linster M, De Graaf M, Herfst S, Fouchier R.
Source
National Influenza Center and Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Repeated transmission of animal influenza viruses to humans has prompted investigation of the viral, host, and environmental factors responsible for transmission via aerosols or respiratory droplets. How do we determine-out of thousands of influenza virus isolates collected in animal surveillance studies each year-which viruses have the potential to become 'airborne', and hence pose a pandemic threat? Here, using knowledge from pandemic, zoonotic and epidemic viruses, we postulate that the minimal requirements for efficient transmission of an animal influenza virus between humans are: efficient virus attachment to (upper) respiratory tissues, replication to high titers in these tissues, and release and aerosolization of single virus particles. Investigating 'airborne' transmission of influenza viruses is key to understand-and predict-influenza pandemics.
Copyright ? 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PMID:
22440921
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22440921
Predicting 'airborne' influenza viruses: (trans-) mission impossible?
Sorrell E, Schrauwen E, Linster M, De Graaf M, Herfst S, Fouchier R.
Source
National Influenza Center and Department of Virology, Erasmus Medical Center, P.O. Box 2040, 3000CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Abstract
Repeated transmission of animal influenza viruses to humans has prompted investigation of the viral, host, and environmental factors responsible for transmission via aerosols or respiratory droplets. How do we determine-out of thousands of influenza virus isolates collected in animal surveillance studies each year-which viruses have the potential to become 'airborne', and hence pose a pandemic threat? Here, using knowledge from pandemic, zoonotic and epidemic viruses, we postulate that the minimal requirements for efficient transmission of an animal influenza virus between humans are: efficient virus attachment to (upper) respiratory tissues, replication to high titers in these tissues, and release and aerosolization of single virus particles. Investigating 'airborne' transmission of influenza viruses is key to understand-and predict-influenza pandemics.
Copyright ? 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
PMID:
22440921
[PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22440921