Influenza virus articles from across Nature Portfolio

In this study, the authors report that bat H9N2 influenza A virus replicates and transmits in ferrets, efficiently infects human lung explant cultures, evades MxA antiviral activity in mice, and has low antigenic similarity to seasonal N2, meeting pre-pandemic criteria.

In this study, the authors report that a bat influenza A (H9N2) virus shows receptor binding features similar to avian influenza viruses, efficiently infects ex-vivo human respiratory cells and replicates in the lungs of mice and upper respiratory tract of ferrets following airborne transmission.

A case report of highly pathogenic avian influenza A H5N1 of clade 2.3.4.4b in the brain of a common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from Florida, United States.

Diet switching from high-fat to standard diet before influenza vaccination affects the metabolic state of T cells, restores their responses and improves vaccine efficacy in mice.

In this study, the authors assessed influenza-specific antibody responses in a cohort of seasonally vaccinated children and report that seasonal vaccination is beneficial by enhancing pandemic influenza virus-specific antibodies and cross-reactive effector functions.

A newly developed RIPK3 inhibitor blocks necroptosis of lung cells, reduces lung inflammation and prevents mortality in a mouse model of influenza A virus infection.

Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) is the only available vaccine against tuberculosis. As well as being an effective vaccine against tuberculosis, BCG also provides off-target protection against various pathogens. Here, we report a mechanism for BCG-mediated cross-protection against influenza A virus (IAV), which requires a dialogue between the innate and adaptive immune memory systems.

A participatory research initiative generates actionable data on avian diseases in New York City, showcases how a community-based approach can tackle misinformation, and actively engages students from historically underrepresented communities in science, technology, engineering and maths.

The unprecedented extent of highly pathogenic avian influenza coincides with intensifying global climate changes that alter host ecology and physiology, and could impact virus evolution and dynamics.

In this Comment, the authors describe recent outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza in cat shelters in Seoul, South Korea. They discuss potential routes of transmission and describe implications for surveillance of spillover infections in animals in non-agricultural settings.

The global outbreak of H5N1 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus and its high toll on animal populations raise concerns about spillover into humans, but human host barriers need to be considered when estimating transmission potential.