Influenza viruses cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics that have claimed the
lives of millions. The emergence of new strains will continue to pose challenges to public …

Highly pathogenic avian H5N1 influenza A viruses occasionally infect humans, but currently
do not transmit efficiently among humans. The viral haemagglutinin (HA) protein is a known …

In this review we examine the hypothesis that aquatic birds are the primordial source of all
influenza viruses in other species and study the ecological features that permit the …

Influenza A viruses cause recurrent outbreaks at local or global scale with potentially severe
consequences for human health and the global economy. Recently, a new strain of …

Although more than 100 people have been infected by H5N1 influenza A viruses, human-to-human
transmission is rare [1]. What are the molecular barriers limiting human-to-human …

In viruses, as in eukaryotes, elaborate mechanisms have evolved to protect the genome and
to ensure its timely replication and reliable transmission to progeny. Influenza A viruses are …

H5N1 influenza A viruses have spread to numerous countries in Asia, Europe and Africa,
infecting not only large numbers of poultry, but also an increasing number of humans, often …

The ‘Spanish’ influenza pandemic of 1918–19 was the most devastating outbreak of infectious
disease in recorded history. At least 20 million people 1 died from their illness, which was …

Herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), the prototype of the α-herpesvirus family, causes life-long
infections in humans. Although generally associated with various mucocutaneous diseases, …

The 1918 influenza pandemic was unusually severe, resulting in about 50 million deaths
worldwide 1 . The 1918 virus is also highly pathogenic in mice, and studies have identified a …