Single assay for simultaneous detection and differential identification of human and avian influenza virus types, subtypes, and emergent variants.

ABSTRACT: For more than four decades the cause of most type A influenza virus infections of humans has been attributed to only two viral subtypes, A/H1N1 or A/H3N2. In contrast, avian and other vertebrate species are a reservoir of type A influenza virus genome diversity, hosting strains representing at least 120 of 144 combinations of 16 viral hemagglutinin and 9 viral neuraminidase subtypes. Viral genome segment reassortments and mutations emerging within this reservoir may spawn new influenza virus strains as imminent epidemic or pandemic threats to human health and poultry production. Traditional methods to detect and differentiate influenza virus subtypes are either time-consuming and labor-intensive (culture-based) or remarkably insensitive (antibody-based). Molecular diagnostic assays based u

SUBMITTER: Metzgar D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2815781 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature