title: Reference viruses for seasonal and pandemic influenza  vaccine preparation.
abstract: The production of seasonal and pandemic influenza vaccines depends on the timely availability of suitable reference viruses.Seasonal vaccines are traditionally produced from high-growth reassortant viruses, which have been derived empirically using well-established techniques. However, it is not possible to use such approaches in deriving vaccine reference viruses from highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses and alternative techniques such as reverse genetics must be employed.
authors.affiliation: Division of Virology, National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Blanche Lane, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, UK. jwood@nibsc.ac.uk
authors.forename: John S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: James S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Robertson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D053124:Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines