Influenza: Molecular Virology

In the last 100 years there have been three major influenza pandemics: the Spanish Flu in 1918 the Asian Flu in 1957 and the Hong Kong Flu in 1968. These pandemics claimed the lives of approximately 50 million 2 million and 1 million people respectively. Added to this is the annual death toll from influenza of 250000 to 500000 people worldwide with a further 3 to 4 million people suffering severe illness. These statistics make influenza an extremely important pathogen. In 1997 the alarming emergence of a new highly pathogenic subtype H5N1 which has a 50% mortality rate provided a major impetus for renewed influenza research. However the battle against influenza is difficult. Recently another subtype H1N1 has emerged. This subtype causes a relatively mild infection in humans however it is highly transmittable between people and a new influenza pandemic has been declared by the World Health Organization. If this virus were to acquire some of the lethal capabilities of H5N1 then the ensuing pandemic could be devastating. In this timely book internationally renowned scientists critically review the current research and the most important discoveries in this highly topical field. Subjects covered include the NS1 protein of influenza A virus the structure of influenza NS1 influenza B hemagglutinin influenza A nucleoprotein influenza A hemagglutinin glycoproteins the M2 channel virulence genes of the 1918 H1N1 influenza influenza virus polymerase gene diagnostic microarrays and computer-assisted vaccine design. Highly informative and well referenced Influenza: Molecular Virology is essential reading for all influenza specialists and is recommended reading for all virologists immunologists molecular biologists public health scientists and research scientists in pharmaceutical companies.