We are gratified that Ron Fouchier has joined (1) the important effort to quantify the risks (2–5) of the creation of potential pandemic pathogens, including ferret-transmissible variants of influenza A/H5N1. However, we disagree with many aspects of his assessment. As in our article and Fouchier’s letter, here we proceed through the calculation, starting with probability of laboratory-acquired...

Approved: ____________________________________ Thesis Supervisor ____________________________________ Title and Department ____________________________________ Date 1 THE ROLE OF PULMONARY DENDRITIC CELLS IN REGULATING THE ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC CD8 T CELL RESPONSE FOLLOWING INFLUENZA VIRUS INFECTION

The use of centrifugation (700 x g, 60 min) in a plaque assay markedly increased (mean, 2.9-fold) the infectivity of all 42 influenza virus strains tested, compared with no centrifugation. Of 13 influenza virus strains isolated from 390 clinical specimens, 9 (69%) were efficiently isolated by the centrifugation assay compared with conventional culture methods. The centrifugation assay may be us...

BACKGROUND CR6261 was found in 2008 and F10 was found in 2009. In 2010 Friesen et al experimentally showed that Oseltamivir/Zanamivir may improve the therapeutic efficacy of CR6261. As a result, the use of CR6261 combined with a drug to provide an antibody-based therapy against all influenza A viruses was proposed. Although CR8020 may neutralize group 2 influenza viruses and FI6 may neutralize ...

In a cell-free system of Escherichia coli, RNA from influenza virus particles is translated into a polypeptide antigenically identical with the ribonucleoprotein and several more proteins, some of which correspond in size to viral structural components.

A prospective surveillance program for influenza viruses was established in Lao People's Democratic Republic (PDR) in July of 2005. We report isolation of H5N1 virus genetically distinct from H5N1 circulating in 2004, which indicates reintroduction of H5N1 into Lao PDR after its disappearance (i.e., no virologic or serologic evidence) for 2 years.

The seasonal influenza virus afflicts between 5 and 20 percent of the U.S. population each year, imposing significant costs on those who fall ill, their families, employers, and the health care system. The flu is transmitted via droplet spread or close contact, and certain environments, such as schools or offices, promote transmission. In this paper we examine whether increased employment rates...