Influenzavirus A

Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification. Influenzavirus A has only one species in it; that species is called "influenza A virus". Influenza A virus causes "avian influenza" (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu). It is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide. [1]

Variants are sometimes also labeled according to:

  • species it is endemic in
    • human flu
    • swine flu
    • horse flu
    • dog flu
  • deadliness
    • Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI)
    • Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (also called: deadly flu or death flu)

Subtypes

The avian flu virus subtypes are labeled according to an H number (for hemagglutinin) and an N number (for neuraminidase). Each subtype virus has mutated into a variety of strains with differing pathogenic profiles; some pathogenic to one species but not others, some pathogenic to multiple species. Most known strains are extinct strains. For example, the annual flu subtype H3N2 no longer contains the strain that caused the Hong Kong Flu.

The avian influenzavirus subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused "Spanish Flu", H2N2 caused "Asian Flu", H3N2 caused "Hong Kong Flu", H5N1 is the current pandemic threat, H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential, H1N2 is currently endemic in humans and pigs, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.

Avian influenza viruses are negative sense, single-stranded, segmented RNA viruses. "There are 16 different HA antigens (H1 to H16) and nine different NA antigens (N1 to N9) for influenza A. Until recently, 15 HA types had been recognized, but a new type (H16) was isolated from black-headed gulls caught in Sweden and the Netherlands in 1999 and reported in the literature in 2005." [2]

Annual flu

The annual flu (also called "seasonal flu" or "human flu") kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year. The annually updated trivalent flu vaccine consists of hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein components from influenza H3N2, H1N1, and B influenza viruses. [3] The dominant strain in January 2006 is H3N2. Measured resistance to the standard antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine in H3N2 has increased from 1% in 1994 to 12% in 2003 to 91% in 2005. [4] [5] "[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [6]

Electron micrograph of avian flu viruses (Source: Dr. Erskine Palmer, CDC).

Genetics

Influenza A viruses contain their genome in eight separate linear segments of negative-sense RNA, which code for ten proteins (eleven for type A if including the novel PB1-F1 protein). Each segment contains a single gene, but some can be read twice at different starting points to create two distinct proteins. The segmented nature of the genome also allows for the exchange of entire genes between different viral strains when they cohabitate the same cell. The 8 genes are:

  • HA gene encoding hemagglutinin (about 500 molecules of hemagglutinin are needed to make one virion) "The extent of infection into host organism is determined by HA. Influenza viruses bud from the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells (e.g. bronchial epithelial cells) into lumen of lungs and are therefore usually pneumotropic. The reason is that HA is cleaved by tryptase clara which is restricted to lungs. However HAs of H5 and H7 pantropic avian viruses subtypes can be cleaved by furin and subtilisin-type enzymes, allowing the virus to grow in other organs than lungs." [7]
  • NA gene encoding neuraminidase (about 100 molecules of neuraminidase are needed to make one virion)
  • NP gene encoding nucleoprotein. Influenza A, B, and C are distinguished by their nucleoproteins
  • M gene encoding two matrix proteins (the M1 and the M2) by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment (about 3000 matrix protein molecules are needed to make one virion)
  • NS gene encoding two distinct non-structural proteins by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment
  • PA gene encoding an RNA polymerase
  • PB1 gene encoding an RNA polymerase and PB1-F2 protein (induces apoptosis) by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment
  • PB2 gene encoding an RNA polymerase

The genome segments have common terminal sequences, and the ends of the RNA strands are partially complementary, allowing them to bond to each other by hydrogen bonds. After transcription from negative-sense to positive-sense RNA the +RNA strands get the cellular 5' cap added, allowing its processing as messenger RNA by ribosomes. The +RNA strands also serve for synthesis of -RNA strands for new virions.

The RNA synthesis and its assembly with the nucleoprotein takes place in the cell nucleus, the synthesis of proteins takes place in the cytoplasm. The assembled virion cores leave the nucleus and migrate towards the cell membrane, with patches of viral transmembrane proteins (hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and M2 proteins) and an underlying layer of the M1 protein, and bud through these patches, releasing finished enveloped viruses into the extracellular fluid.

In nonhumans

Wild fowl act as natural asymptomatic carriers of avian flu virus. Prior to the current H5N1 epizootic, strains of avian influenza virus had been demonstrated to be transmitted from wild fowl to only birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales and humans; and only between humans and pigs and between humans and domestic fowl; and not other pathways such as domestic fowl to horse. [8] H5N1 has been shown to be also transmitted to tigers, leopards, and domestic cats who were fed uncooked domestic fowl (chickens) with the virus. H3N8 viruses from horses have crossed over and caused outbreaks in dogs. Laboratory mice have been successfully infected with a variety of avian flu genotypes. [9]

Avian influenza virus spreads in the air and in manure and survives longer in cold weather. It can also be transmitted by contaminated feed, water, equipment and clothing; however, there is no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat. The incubation period is 3 to 5 days. Symptoms in animals vary, but virulent strains can cause death within a few days.

"Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents". [10]

Avian influenza viruses that the OIE and others test for in order to control poultry disease include: H5N1, H7N2, H1N7, H7N3, H13N6, H5N9, H11N6, H3N8, H9N2, H5N2, H4N8, H10N7, H2N2, H8N4, H14N5, H6N5, H12N5 and others. [11]

Outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza
Year Area Affected Strain
---------------------------------------------------------
1959 Scotland chicken H5N1
1963 England turkey H7N3
1966 Ontario (Canada) turkey H5N9
1976 Victoria (Australia) chicken H7N7
1979 Germany chicken H7N7
1979 England turkey H7N7
1983 Pennsylvania (USA)* chicken,turkey H5N2
1983 Ireland turkey H5N8
1985 Victoria (Australia) chicken H7N7
1991 England turkey H5N1
1992 Victoria (Australia) chicken H7N3
1994 Queensland (Australia) chicken H7N3
1994 Mexico* chicken H5N2
1994 Pakistan* chicken H7N3
1997 New South Wales (Australia) chicken H7N4
1997 Hong Kong (China)* chicken H5N1
1997 Italy chicken H5N2
1999 Italy* turkey H7N1
2002 Hong Kong (China) chicken H5N1
2002 Chile chicken H7N3
2003 Netherlands* chicken H7N7
---------------------------------------------------------
*Outbreaks with significant spread to numerous farms,
 resulting in great economic losses. Most other outbreaks
 involved little or no spread from the initially infected
 farms.

1979: "More than 400 harbor seals, most of them immature, died along the New England coast between December 1979 and October 1980 of acute pneumonia associated with influenza virus, A/Seal/Mass/1/180 (H7N7)." [12]

1995: "[V]accinated birds can develop asymptomatic infections that allow virus to spread, mutate, and recombine (ProMED-mail, 2004j). Intensive surveillance is required to detect these “silent epidemics” in time to curtail them. In Mexico, for example, mass vaccination of chickens against epidemic H5N2 influenza in 1995 has had to continue in order to control a persistent and evolving virus (Lee et al., 2004)." [13]

1997: "Influenza A viruses normally seen in one species sometimes can cross over and cause illness in another species. For example, until 1997, only H1N1 viruses circulated widely in the U.S. pig population. However, in 1997, H3N2 viruses from humans were introduced into the pig population and caused widespread disease among pigs. Most recently, H3N8 viruses from horses have crossed over and caused outbreaks in dogs." [14]

2000: "In California, poultry producers kept their knowledge of a recent H6N2 avian influenza outbreak to themselves due to their fear of public rejection of poultry products; meanwhile, the disease spread across the western United States and has since become endemic." [15] [16]

2003: In Netherlands H7N7 influenza virus infection broke out in poultry on several farms. [17]

2004: In North America, the presence of avian influenza strain H7N3 was confirmed at several poultry farms in British Columbia in February 2004. As of April 2004, 18 farms had been quarantined to halt the spread of the virus. CDC detailed analysis

2005: Tens of millions of birds died of H5N1 influenza and hundreds of millions of birds were culled to protect humans from H5N1. H5N1 is endemic in birds in southeast Asia and represents a long term pandemic threat.

"[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [18]

Swine flu
Horse flu
Dog flu
H3N8

In humans

"Human influenza virus" usually refers to those subtypes that spread widely among humans. H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are the only known avian flu virus subtypes currently circulating among humans. [19]

Genetic factors in distinguishing between "human flu viruses" and "avian flu viruses" include:

In humans, avian flu viruses cause similar symptoms to other types of flu. [21] These include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis and, in severe cases, severe breathing problems and pneumonia that may be fatal. The severity of the infection will depend to a large part on the state of the infected person's immune system and if the victim has been exposed to the strain before, and is therefore partially immune. In one case, a boy with H5N1 experienced diarrhea followed rapidly by a coma without developing respiratory or flu-like symptoms, suggesting non-standard symptoms. [22]

The avian influenza subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused "Spanish Flu", H2N2 caused "Asian Flu", H3N2 caused "Hong Kong Flu", H5N1 is the current pandemic threat, H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential, H1N2 is currently endemic in humans and pigs, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.

All avian influenza (AI) viruses are type A influenza virus in the virus family of Orthomyxoviridae and all known strains of influenza A virus infect birds. Influenzavirus type A is subdivided into subtypes based on hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) protein spikes from the central virus core. There are 16 H types, each with up to 9 N subtypes, yielding a potential for 144 different H and N combinations.

In addition, avian influenza viruses may fall into one of 2 pathotypes: low (LPAI) and high (HPAI) pathogenicity, based on their virulence in poultry populations. Avian influenzavirus H5 and H7 strains are found in both "low pathogenic” or “high pathogenic” forms; influenza H9 virus has been identified only in a “low pathogenic” form.

It is feared that if a strain of avian influenza virus to which humans have not been previously exposed undergoes antigenic shift to the point where it can cross the species barrier from birds to humans, the new subtype created could be both highly contagious and highly lethal in humans. If a human infected with influenzavirus also acquires H5N1, a mutant strain of bird flu that can be transmitted from human to human could form. Such a subtype could cause a global pandemic similar to the Spanish Flu that killed up to 50 million people in 1918.

H1N1
H2N2
H3N2
H5N1
H7N7
H1N2
H9N2
H7N2
H7N3
H10N7

Sources

  • Gibbs, W. Waut & Soares, Christine (Nov. 2005). "Preparing for a Pandemic". Scientific American, p. 23–31.
  • "Reining in bird flu: Answer may lie with reverse engineering". (Nov. 6, 2005). New Sunday Times, p. F18.
  • "Three million Asians may die". (Nov. 5, 2005). New Straits Times, p. 28.
  • "Avian Influenza Factsheet". World Health Organization. Retrieved November 16th, 2005.

Further reading

Official sources (also see H5N1)
  • Avian influenza and Influenza Pandemics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Avian influenza FAQ from the World Health Organization
  • U.S. Government's avian influenza information website
General information (also see Flu)
  • Special issue on avian flu from Nature
  • Overview of H5N1 from New England Journal of Medicine
  • A guide to bird flu and its symptoms from BBC Health
  • A Variety of Avian Flu Images and Pictures
  • Avian flu, bioterror, animals (page in an online book) "Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents"
  • 'The Threat of Bird Flu' : HealthPolitics.com
  • Is a Global Flu Pandemic Imminent? from Infection Control Today.
  • Bird Flu is a Real Pandemic Threat to Humans by Leonard Crane, author of Ninth Day of Creation.
  • Links to Bird Flu pictures (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa)
News
  • Current status (Google news of avian+OR+bird+flu+OR+influenza)
  • Flu Breaking News Avian flu, common symptom, flu vaccine and flu shot and latest news
  • Global Pandemic News : 24 X 7 online news feeds on the threat of Bird Flu and a Global Pandemic

This page about bird flu includes information from a Wikipedia article.
Additional articles about bird flu
News stories about bird flu
External links for bird flu
Videos for bird flu
Wikis about bird flu
Discussion Groups about bird flu
Blogs about bird flu
Images of bird flu

Such a subtype could cause a global pandemic similar to the Spanish Flu that killed up to 50 million people in 1918. They were first produced in 2001 and are available only in Latin America since 2003. If a human infected with influenzavirus also acquires H5N1, a mutant strain of bird flu that can be transmitted from human to human could form. Automovil Lamborghini de Latin America ( www.e-lamborghini.com ) was set up by a Jorge Antonio Fernandez Garcia in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1994, It is officially licensed to produce two handbuilt variants of the Diablo called the Eros and the Coatl. It is feared that if a strain of avian influenza virus to which humans have not been previously exposed undergoes antigenic shift to the point where it can cross the species barrier from birds to humans, the new subtype created could be both highly contagious and highly lethal in humans. Lamborghini has had a number of owners, as shown in this simplified list:. Avian influenzavirus H5 and H7 strains are found in both "low pathogenic” or “high pathogenic” forms; influenza H9 virus has been identified only in a “low pathogenic” form. Future Lamborghini models will be penned by Walter de’Silva, who designed the 2006 Miura concept car and who replaces Luc Donckerwolke as head of Centro Stile Lamborghini, Lamborghini's in-house design department.

In addition, avian influenza viruses may fall into one of 2 pathotypes: low (LPAI) and high (HPAI) pathogenicity, based on their virulence in poultry populations. Future models may include a revived Miura supercar to rival the Ferrari Enzo, a rear-wheel-drive version of the Gallardo and possibly an SUV in the spirit of the LM002. There are 16 H types, each with up to 9 N subtypes, yielding a potential for 144 different H and N combinations. The styling is largely the work of Belgian designer Luc Donckerwolke. Influenzavirus type A is subdivided into subtypes based on hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N) protein spikes from the central virus core. All are very fast, mid-engined 2-seaters with four-wheel-drive as standard. All avian influenza (AI) viruses are type A influenza virus in the virus family of Orthomyxoviridae and all known strains of influenza A virus infect birds. The current (2006) range consists of the Murciélago, the Murciélago Roadster and the smaller, less expensive Gallardo and Gallardo Spyder.

The avian influenza subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused "Spanish Flu", H2N2 caused "Asian Flu", H3N2 caused "Hong Kong Flu", H5N1 is the current pandemic threat, H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential, H1N2 is currently endemic in humans and pigs, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7. The Miura, the Countach, the Diablo, and the Murciélago continue to be the most desired sportscars of all of their peers. [22]. Although Lamborghini has continuously shown engineering expertise with the more civil models such as 350GT, 400GT, Espada, Jarama, Jalpa and Gallardo, it is the outrageous supercars that have established the Lamborghini name and look with the public. In one case, a boy with H5N1 experienced diarrhea followed rapidly by a coma without developing respiratory or flu-like symptoms, suggesting non-standard symptoms. Lamborghini's products include the 350GTV (1963), 350GT (1964), 400GT (1965), Miura (1966), Flying Star II (1966), Marzal (1966), Espada (1968), Islero (1968), Jarama (1970), Countach (1974), Bravo (1974), Silhouette (1976), Jalpa (1982), LM002 (1986), Diablo (1990), Cala (1995), Murciélago (2001) and the Gallardo (2003). The severity of the infection will depend to a large part on the state of the infected person's immune system and if the victim has been exposed to the strain before, and is therefore partially immune. .

[21] These include fever, cough, sore throat, muscle aches, conjunctivitis and, in severe cases, severe breathing problems and pneumonia that may be fatal. Contrary to a frequent misunderstanding, Ferruccio himself never was a bullfighting supporter but loved Bulls and was a Taurus, which explains why most models have a name somehow related to bulls. In humans, avian flu viruses cause similar symptoms to other types of flu. Featuring bodies designed by Franco Scaglione, Touring of Milan, Zagato, Mario Marazzi, Bertone, ItalDesign, Marcello Gandini and Luc Donckerwolke, Lamborghini's cars are not only amongst the most expensive and powerful road-going vehicles made, but are also amongst the most stunning and impressive in appearance. Genetic factors in distinguishing between "human flu viruses" and "avian flu viruses" include:. "If you don't like the way I build my cars, why don't you go build one in that tractor factory of yours.". [19]. Ferrari, a notorious hothead, got apoplectic.

H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are the only known avian flu virus subtypes currently circulating among humans. Lamborghini pointed out a few things in Ferrari's designs which he did not agree with. "Human influenza virus" usually refers to those subtypes that spread widely among humans. The most likely version, one that has been corroborated several times, is that Ferruccio Lamborghini met Enzo Ferrari at a party, and, naturally, the talk drifted to sports cars. "[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [18]. There are several versions of why Lamborghini started his company, all of them involving a conflict between himself and Enzo Ferrari. H5N1 is endemic in birds in southeast Asia and represents a long term pandemic threat. Ferruccio Lamborghini was an enthusiastic owner of sports cars, including a Ferrari.

2005: Tens of millions of birds died of H5N1 influenza and hundreds of millions of birds were culled to protect humans from H5N1. The company was founded in 1963 by Ferruccio Lamborghini (1916–1993) as a spin-off from his very successful tractor factory, Lamborghini Trattori S.p.A.. CDC detailed analysis. Automobili Lamborghini S.p.A., commonly known as Lamborghini, is a manufacturer of high performance sports cars based in the small Italian village of Sant'Agata Bolognese, near Bologna. As of April 2004, 18 farms had been quarantined to halt the spread of the virus. Volkswagen Group (Audi) since 1998. 2004: In North America, the presence of avian influenza strain H7N3 was confirmed at several poultry farms in British Columbia in February 2004. Megatech 1994–1998.

[17]. Chrysler 1987–1994. 2003: In Netherlands H7N7 influenza virus infection broke out in poultry on several farms. Patrick Mimran (managed 1980–1984) 1984–1987. 2000: "In California, poultry producers kept their knowledge of a recent H6N2 avian influenza outbreak to themselves due to their fear of public rejection of poultry products; meanwhile, the disease spread across the western United States and has since become endemic." [15] [16]. bankrupt 1977–1984. Most recently, H3N8 viruses from horses have crossed over and caused outbreaks in dogs." [14]. Georges-Henri Rossetti & René Leimer 1972–1977.

However, in 1997, H3N2 viruses from humans were introduced into the pig population and caused widespread disease among pigs. Ferruccio Lamborghini 1963–1972. pig population. For example, until 1997, only H1N1 viruses circulated widely in the U.S. 1997: "Influenza A viruses normally seen in one species sometimes can cross over and cause illness in another species.

In Mexico, for example, mass vaccination of chickens against epidemic H5N2 influenza in 1995 has had to continue in order to control a persistent and evolving virus (Lee et al., 2004)." [13]. Intensive surveillance is required to detect these “silent epidemics” in time to curtail them. 1995: "[V]accinated birds can develop asymptomatic infections that allow virus to spread, mutate, and recombine (ProMED-mail, 2004j). 1979: "More than 400 harbor seals, most of them immature, died along the New England coast between December 1979 and October 1980 of acute pneumonia associated with influenza virus, A/Seal/Mass/1/180 (H7N7)." [12].

[11]. Avian influenza viruses that the OIE and others test for in order to control poultry disease include: H5N1, H7N2, H1N7, H7N3, H13N6, H5N9, H11N6, H3N8, H9N2, H5N2, H4N8, H10N7, H2N2, H8N4, H14N5, H6N5, H12N5 and others. [10]. "Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents".

Symptoms in animals vary, but virulent strains can cause death within a few days. The incubation period is 3 to 5 days. It can also be transmitted by contaminated feed, water, equipment and clothing; however, there is no evidence that the virus can survive in well cooked meat. Avian influenza virus spreads in the air and in manure and survives longer in cold weather.

[9]. Laboratory mice have been successfully infected with a variety of avian flu genotypes. H3N8 viruses from horses have crossed over and caused outbreaks in dogs. [8] H5N1 has been shown to be also transmitted to tigers, leopards, and domestic cats who were fed uncooked domestic fowl (chickens) with the virus.

Prior to the current H5N1 epizootic, strains of avian influenza virus had been demonstrated to be transmitted from wild fowl to only birds, pigs, horses, seals, whales and humans; and only between humans and pigs and between humans and domestic fowl; and not other pathways such as domestic fowl to horse. Wild fowl act as natural asymptomatic carriers of avian flu virus. The assembled virion cores leave the nucleus and migrate towards the cell membrane, with patches of viral transmembrane proteins (hemagglutinin, neuraminidase and M2 proteins) and an underlying layer of the M1 protein, and bud through these patches, releasing finished enveloped viruses into the extracellular fluid. The RNA synthesis and its assembly with the nucleoprotein takes place in the cell nucleus, the synthesis of proteins takes place in the cytoplasm.

The +RNA strands also serve for synthesis of -RNA strands for new virions. After transcription from negative-sense to positive-sense RNA the +RNA strands get the cellular 5' cap added, allowing its processing as messenger RNA by ribosomes. The genome segments have common terminal sequences, and the ends of the RNA strands are partially complementary, allowing them to bond to each other by hydrogen bonds. The 8 genes are:.

The segmented nature of the genome also allows for the exchange of entire genes between different viral strains when they cohabitate the same cell. Each segment contains a single gene, but some can be read twice at different starting points to create two distinct proteins. Influenza A viruses contain their genome in eight separate linear segments of negative-sense RNA, which code for ten proteins (eleven for type A if including the novel PB1-F1 protein). [4] [5] "[C]ontemporary human H3N2 influenza viruses are now endemic in pigs in southern China and can reassort with avian H5N1 viruses in this intermediate host." [6].

Measured resistance to the standard antiviral drugs amantadine and rimantadine in H3N2 has increased from 1% in 1994 to 12% in 2003 to 91% in 2005. [3] The dominant strain in January 2006 is H3N2. The annually updated trivalent flu vaccine consists of hemagglutinin (HA) surface glycoprotein components from influenza H3N2, H1N1, and B influenza viruses. The annual flu (also called "seasonal flu" or "human flu") kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year.

Until recently, 15 HA types had been recognized, but a new type (H16) was isolated from black-headed gulls caught in Sweden and the Netherlands in 1999 and reported in the literature in 2005." [2]. "There are 16 different HA antigens (H1 to H16) and nine different NA antigens (N1 to N9) for influenza A. Avian influenza viruses are negative sense, single-stranded, segmented RNA viruses. The avian influenzavirus subtypes that have been confirmed in humans, ordered by the number of known human deaths, are: H1N1 caused "Spanish Flu", H2N2 caused "Asian Flu", H3N2 caused "Hong Kong Flu", H5N1 is the current pandemic threat, H7N7 has unusual zoonotic potential, H1N2 is currently endemic in humans and pigs, H9N2, H7N2, H7N3, H10N7.

For example, the annual flu subtype H3N2 no longer contains the strain that caused the Hong Kong Flu. Most known strains are extinct strains. Each subtype virus has mutated into a variety of strains with differing pathogenic profiles; some pathogenic to one species but not others, some pathogenic to multiple species. The avian flu virus subtypes are labeled according to an H number (for hemagglutinin) and an N number (for neuraminidase).

. Variants are sometimes also labeled according to:. [1]. It was first identified in Italy in the early 1900s and is now known to exist worldwide.

It is hosted by birds, but may infect several species of mammals. Influenza A virus causes "avian influenza" (also known as bird flu, avian flu, influenzavirus A flu, type A flu, or genus A flu). Influenzavirus A has only one species in it; that species is called "influenza A virus". Influenzavirus A is a genus of a family of viruses called Orthomyxoviridae in virus classification.

Global Pandemic News : 24 X 7 online news feeds on the threat of Bird Flu and a Global Pandemic. Flu Breaking News Avian flu, common symptom, flu vaccine and flu shot and latest news. Current status (Google news of avian+OR+bird+flu+OR+influenza). Links to Bird Flu pictures (Hardin MD/Univ of Iowa).

Bird Flu is a Real Pandemic Threat to Humans by Leonard Crane, author of Ninth Day of Creation. Is a Global Flu Pandemic Imminent? from Infection Control Today. 'The Threat of Bird Flu' : HealthPolitics.com. Avian flu, bioterror, animals (page in an online book) "Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is on every top ten list available for potential agricultural bioweapon agents".

A Variety of Avian Flu Images and Pictures. A guide to bird flu and its symptoms from BBC Health. Overview of H5N1 from New England Journal of Medicine. Special issue on avian flu from Nature.

Government's avian influenza information website. U.S. Avian influenza FAQ from the World Health Organization. Avian influenza and Influenza Pandemics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Retrieved November 16th, 2005. World Health Organization. "Avian Influenza Factsheet". 28.

New Straits Times, p. 5, 2005). (Nov. "Three million Asians may die".

F18. New Sunday Times, p. 6, 2005). (Nov.

"Reining in bird flu: Answer may lie with reverse engineering". 23–31. Scientific American, p. "Preparing for a Pandemic".

2005). Waut & Soares, Christine (Nov. Gibbs, W. PB2 gene encoding an RNA polymerase.

PB1 gene encoding an RNA polymerase and PB1-F2 protein (induces apoptosis) by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment. PA gene encoding an RNA polymerase. NS gene encoding two distinct non-structural proteins by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment. M gene encoding two matrix proteins (the M1 and the M2) by using different reading frames from the same RNA segment (about 3000 matrix protein molecules are needed to make one virion).

Influenza A, B, and C are distinguished by their nucleoproteins. NP gene encoding nucleoprotein. NA gene encoding neuraminidase (about 100 molecules of neuraminidase are needed to make one virion). However HAs of H5 and H7 pantropic avian viruses subtypes can be cleaved by furin and subtilisin-type enzymes, allowing the virus to grow in other organs than lungs." [7].

The reason is that HA is cleaved by tryptase clara which is restricted to lungs. bronchial epithelial cells) into lumen of lungs and are therefore usually pneumotropic. Influenza viruses bud from the apical surface of polarized epithelial cells (e.g. HA gene encoding hemagglutinin (about 500 molecules of hemagglutinin are needed to make one virion) "The extent of infection into host organism is determined by HA.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) (also called: deadly flu or death flu). Low pathogenic avian influenza (LPAI). deadliness

    . dog flu.

    horse flu. swine flu. human flu. species it is endemic in

      .