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Background and Aims: Influenza A virus infects birds and some mammalian including human. H1 and H3 subtypes are circulated in both human and birds' population. To determine the prevalence of the mentioned subtypes in birds, different captive bird species in Tehran zoo, and affiliated centers in Tehran were investigated for virus infection. Methods: In this study, Between November 2008 and February 2009, 76 cloacal swabs and serum samples were collected from 5 orders of Anseriformes, Galliformes, Columbiformes, Pelicaniformes and Phoenicopteriformes. Antibody surveillance was undertaken by haemagglutination inhibition assay and for detection of influenza virus genome RT-PCR technique was used. Results: In total, 57.7% and 88.75% of bird sera were seropositive against H1 and H3 viruses respectively. The highest GMT value and the greatest antibody titers were observed in Galliformes order particularly in chicken species. Influenza A genome was not detected in any of the samples by RT-PCR using M gene. Conclusion: Results of this study indicated that seropositive birds were infected during the last or possibly previous years with H1 and H3 virus strain.

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Background and Aims: Influenza A virus of Orthomyxoviridae family is able to create pandemic influenza. Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent influenza virus infection. Matrix protein 2 (M2) is a homotetramer ion channel with 97 amino acids length and highly conserved among influenza viruses and is considered for development of a universal influenza vaccine. Materials and Methods:We present here cloning and expression of influenza A virus M2 protein as a fusion with 6-His tag in Escherichia coli BL21 strain. The gene was amplified by PCR and ligated into the prokaryotic expression vector pET28a. The expression of M2 protein was induced by IPTG and confirmed by SDS-PAGE and western blotting. The desired protein was purified with affinity chromatography on a Ni-TED resin column and has to be evaluated in animal models for further studies. Results:The results of sequencing showed that M2 gene was cloned in pET28a properly in frame to histidine tag and the product was confirmed by xpreimmune reaction of monoclonal anti-M2 antibody to recombinant M2 in western blotting. Conclusion: This study might provide a basis for production of a universal and broadspectrum human influenza vaccine.

Background and Aims: Influenza virus is a major pathogen involved in respiratory illnesses during winter seasons. A variety of diagnostic methods have been developed to identify influenza viruses in clinical specimen. Methods: Nasal and pharyngeal samples taken from patients were inoculated into Madin-Darby canine kidney (MOCK) cells and embryonated chicken eggs (ECEs). The culture media was assayed for hemagglutination (HA). Tissue culture supernatant and clinical specimens were used for RNA extraction, followed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using specific primers for influenza virus typing and subtyping. Results: 21% of the samples were positive by RT-PCR while only 8.7% and 3.5% were positive by culturing in MOCK and ECE respectively. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that RT-PCR is more effective and sensitive than tissue culture for the diagnosis of influenza virus infection.