title: Knowns and unknowns of influenza B viruses.
abstract: Influenza B viruses (IBVs) circulate annually along with influenza A (IAV) strains during seasonal epidemics. IBV can dominate influenza seasons and cause severe disease, particularly in children and adolescents. Research has revealed interesting aspects of IBV and highlighted the importance of these viruses in clinical settings. Yet, many important questions remain unanswered. In this review, the clinical relevance of IBV is emphasized, unique features in epidemiology, host range and virology are highlighted and gaps in knowledge pinpointed. Multiple aspects of IBV epidemiology, evolution, virology and immunology are discussed. Future research into IBV is needed to understand how we can prevent severe disease in high-risk groups, especially children and elderly.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koutsakos
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Thi H O
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.affiliation: Section of Virology, Faculty of Medicine, Wright Fleming Institute, Imperial College London, Norfolk Place, London W2 1PG, UK.
authors.forename: Wendy S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Barclay
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Melbourne, at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection & Immunity, Parkville VIC 3010, Australia.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kedzierska
mesh_terms: D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D014943:Global Health; D058507:Host Specificity; D006801:Humans; D009981:Influenza B virus / Q000145:classification / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000821:virology*
keywords: epidemiology; immunology; influenza B; virology