title: [Transmissibility and pathogenicity of influenza viruses].
abstract: In the spring of 2009, a novel swine-origin H1N1 virus, whose antigenicity is quite different from those of seasonal human H1N1 strains, emerged in Mexico and readily transmitted and spread among humans, resulting in the first influenza pandemic in the 21st century. Molecular analyses of the pandemic H1N1 2009 viruses indicate low-pathogenic features for humans, although worldwide transmission of the virus and a considerable numbers of lethal cases with acute pneumonia have been observed in the first wave of the current pandemic. Here, we review our current molecular knowledge of transmissibility and pathogenicity of influenza viruses and discuss the future aspects of the pandemic virus.
authors.affiliation: 'Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Graduate School of Agricultural and Life Sciences, University of Tokyo.
authors.forename: Taisuke
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Horimoto
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kawaoka
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000635:transmission* / Q000821:virology*; D009975:Orthomyxoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000635:transmission / Q000821:virology; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins
chemical_list: D019267:Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus; C085820:INS1 protein, influenza virus; C442816:PB1-F2 protein, Influenza A virus; C502893:PB2 protein, influenza virus; D011991:Receptors, Virus; D017361:Viral Nonstructural Proteins; D014764:Viral Proteins; C483468:hemagglutinin, human influenza A virus