The Biology of Influenza Viruses

Overview

Journal Vaccine

Specialty Allergy & Immunology

Date 2009 Feb 21

PMID 19230160

Citations 531

Authors

Nicole M Bouvier

Peter Palese

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The influenza viruses are characterized by segmented, negative-strand RNA genomes requiring an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of viral origin for replication. The particular structure ofthe influenza virus genome and function of its viral proteins enable antigenic drift and antigenic shift. These processes result in viruses able to evade the long-term adaptive immune responses in many hosts.

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