Influenza A virus

Influenza A virus
	Structure of influenza A virus
	TEM micrograph of influenza A viruses
Virus classification
(unranked):	Virus
Realm:	Riboviria
Kingdom:	Orthornavirae
Phylum:	Negarnaviricota
Class:	Insthoviricetes
Order:	Articulavirales
Family:	Orthomyxoviridae
Genus:	Alphainfluenzavirus
Species:	Influenza A virus
Subtypes
	See text

Influenza A virus is a pathogen that causes the flu in birds and some mammals, including humans.^[1] It is an RNA virus whose subtypes have been isolated from wild birds. Occasionally, it is transmitted from wild to domestic birds, and this may cause severe disease, outbreaks, or human influenza pandemics.^[2]^[3]^[4]

Each virus subtype includes a wide variety of strains with differing pathogenic profiles; some may cause disease only in one species but others to multiple ones. Because the viral genome is segmented, subtypes are neither strains nor lineages, as the subtype designation refers to proteins encoded by only two of the eight genome segments.

A filtered and purified influenza A vaccine for humans has been developed and many countries have stockpiled it to allow a quick administration to the population in the event of an avian influenza pandemic. In 2011, researchers reported the discovery of an antibody effective against all types of the influenza A virus.^[5]

^ Havers FP, Campbell AJ (2020). "285. Influenza viruses". In Kliegman RM, St Geme III JW (eds.). Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics (21st ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 1727–1739. ISBN 978-0-323-56890-6. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.
^ "Avian influenza (" bird flu") – Fact sheet". World Health Organization (WHO). 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
^ Klenk HD, Matrosovich M, Stech J (2008). "Avian Influenza: Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Host Range". In Mettenleiter TC, Sobrino F (eds.). Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-22-6. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
^ Kawaoka Y, ed. (2006). Influenza Virology: Current Topics. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-06-6. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2007.
^ Gallagher J (29 July 2011). "'Super antibody' fights off flu". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2011.

[Kliegman2020-1] Havers FP, Campbell AJ (2020). "285. Influenza viruses". In Kliegman RM, St Geme III JW (eds.). Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics (21st ed.). Philadelphia: Elsevier. pp. 1727–1739. ISBN 978-0-323-56890-6. Archived from the original on 27 December 2023. Retrieved 27 November 2023.

[2] "Avian influenza (" bird flu") – Fact sheet". World Health Organization (WHO). 3 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 May 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2024.

[sobrino6-3] Klenk HD, Matrosovich M, Stech J (2008). "Avian Influenza: Molecular Mechanisms of Pathogenesis and Host Range". In Mettenleiter TC, Sobrino F (eds.). Animal Viruses: Molecular Biology. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-22-6. Archived from the original on 20 August 2016. Retrieved 4 October 2007.

[Kawaoka-4] Kawaoka Y, ed. (2006). Influenza Virology: Current Topics. Caister Academic Press. ISBN 978-1-904455-06-6. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 4 October 2007.

[bbc110729-5] Gallagher J (29 July 2011). "'Super antibody' fights off flu". BBC News. Archived from the original on 4 January 2021. Retrieved 29 July 2011.

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