title: The biology of influenza viruses.
abstract: The influenza viruses are characterized by segmented, negative-strand RNA genomes requiring an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of viral origin for replication. The particular structure ofthe influenza virus genome and function of its viral proteins enable antigenic drift and antigenic shift. These processes result in viruses able to evade the long-term adaptive immune responses in many hosts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York 10029, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Bouvier
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Palese
mesh_terms: D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D040961:Genetic Drift; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D016865:Reassortant Viruses / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D000956:Antigens, Viral