Strategies for developing vaccines against H5N1 influenza A viruses.
Recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus (H5N1 subtype) infections in poultry and humans (through direct contact with infected birds) have raised concerns that a new influenza pandemic might occur in the near future. Effective vaccines against H5N1 virus are, therefore, urgently needed. Reverse-genetics-based inactivated vaccines have been prepared according to World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations and are now undergoing clinical evaluation in several countries. Here, we review the current strategies for the development of H5N1 influenza vaccines, and future directions for vaccine development.
Horimoto
Taisuke
T
Division of Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan.
Kawaoka
Yoshihiro
Y
D000818:Animals; D002626:Chemistry, Pharmaceutical / Q000379:methods*; D002645:Chickens; D002522:Chlorocebus aethiops; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology* / Q000502:physiology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D005585:Influenza in Birds / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008957:Models, Genetic; D018448:Models, Immunological; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D014709:Vero Cells; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000302:isolation & purification; D014779:Virus Replication
D007252:Influenza Vaccines; D037521:Virulence Factors