Title: Transfectant influenza viruses as antigen delivery vectors
Abstract: Publisher Summary Reverse genetics techniques that allow the genetic manipulation of the influenza virus genome has been developed. It is now possible to engineer transfectant influenza viruses bearing specific mutations into their genomic RNAs. Several molecular strategies have recently been applied to recover transfectant influenza virus vectors expressing novel antigens. The potential use of such vectors as live vaccines against different pathogens and/or diseases is discussed in the chapter. Influenza A viruses comprise different virus subtypes, according to the antigenicity of their external glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (HA), and neuraminidase (NA). The segmented nature of the genome of the virus facilitates the exchange of virus segments between human and avian strains infecting the same cell, resulting in novel human strains. Apart from antigenic shift, influenza A viruses also undergo antigenic drift. This process involves the selection of viruses bearing point mutations in the HA and NA genes that change their antigenic properties. The HA protein is the most important antigenic component of the virus for the induction of a neutralizing antibody response against the virus.
Publication Year: 2000
Publication Date: 2000-01-01
Language: en
Type: review
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 14
AI Researcher Chatbot
Get quick answers to your questions about the article from our AI researcher chatbot