H5N1 Influenza — Continuing Evolution and Spread

Heterologous HA DNA vaccine prime—inactivated influenza vaccine boost is more effective than using DNA or inactivated vaccine alone in eliciting antibody responses against H1 or H3 serotype influenza viruses

“…Seasonal influenza virus infections can produce high morbidity and the emerging threat of pandemic influenza, particularly from an avian source, has become a new concern to the health of the worldwide human population [1][2][3]. The best option for reducing the impact of influenza virus infection in humans is vaccination [4].…”

Immunological assessment of plant-derived avian flu H5/HA1 variants

“…The development of cost-effective avian flu vaccines for both humans and domestic poultry is an urgent priority to prevent pandemic flu outbreaks [1]. Recombinant subunit vaccines that incorporate antigenic viral membrane glycoproteins, such as hemagglutinin (HA), are particularly attractive candidates, since these molecules can induce virus-neutralizing antibodies [2].…”

Pre-pandemic and pandemic influenza vaccines

“…77 Unlike H5N1, where the virus is continually evolving in its animal reservoir and sporadically infecting humans, 78 H1N1 2009 appeared to have entered the human population as a single event or multiple events by genetically similar viruses closely related to the pandemic H1N1 reference strain A/California/7/2009. 77 To date there have been over 9,500 deaths, (www.who.int/csr/don/2009_12_11a/en/index.html) by viruses, all of which are antigenically and genetically similar (www.who.int/csr/don/2009_08_04/en/index.html).…”