Journalartikel

Jahr der Veröffentlichung: 2016

Seiten: 487-500

Zeitschrift: Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine

Bandnummer: 37

Heftnummer: 4

ISSN: 1069-3424

eISSN: 1098-9048

Open Access Status: Green

DOI Link: https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1584801

Verlag: Thieme Publishing / Georg Thieme Verlag

Abstract: 
Seasonal and pandemic influenza are the two faces of respiratory infections caused by influenza viruses in humans. As seasonal influenza occurs on an annual basis, the circulating virus strains are closely monitored and a yearly updated vaccination is provided, especially to identified risk populations. Nonetheless, influenza virus infection may result in pneumonia and acute respiratory failure, frequently complicated by bacterial coinfection. Pandemics are, in contrary, unexpected rare events related to the emergence of a reassorted human-pathogenic influenza A virus (IAV) strains that often causes increased morbidity and spreads extremely rapidly in the immunologically naive human population, with huge clinical and economic impact. Accordingly, particular efforts are made to advance our knowledge on the disease biology and pathology and recent studies have brought new insights into IAV adaptation mechanisms to the human host, as well as into the key players in disease pathogenesis on the host side. Current antiviral strategies are only efficient at the early stages of the disease and are challenged by the genomic instability of the virus, highlighting the need for novel antiviral therapies targeting the pulmonary host response to improve viral clearance, reduce the risk of bacterial coinfection, and prevent or attenuate acute lung injury. This review article summarizes our current knowledge on the molecular basis of influenza infection and disease progression, the key players in pathogenesis driving severe disease and progression to lung failure, as well as available and envisioned prevention and treatment strategies against influenza virus infection.

Harvard-Zitierstil: Peteranderl, C., Herold, S. and Schmoldt, C. (2016) Human Influenza Virus Infections, Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 37(4), pp. 487-500. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1584801

APA-Zitierstil: Peteranderl, C., Herold, S., & Schmoldt, C. (2016). Human Influenza Virus Infections. Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine. 37(4), 487-500. https://doi.org/10.1055/s-0036-1584801