The Innovation (Sep 2022)

Co-existence and co-infection of influenza A viruses and coronaviruses: Public health challenges

  • Jing Yang,
  • Yuhuan Gong,
  • Chunge Zhang,
  • Ju Sun,
  • Gary Wong,
  • Weifeng Shi,
  • Wenjun Liu,
  • George F. Gao,
  • Yuhai Bi

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 3, no. 5
p. 100306

Abstract

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Since the 20th century, humans have lived through five pandemics caused by influenza A viruses (IAVs) (H1N1/1918, H2N2/1957, H3N2/1968, and H1N1/2009) and the coronavirus (CoV) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). IAVs and CoVs both have broad host ranges and share multiple hosts. Virus co-circulation and even co-infections facilitate genetic reassortment among IAVs and recombination among CoVs, further altering virus evolution dynamics and generating novel variants with increased cross-species transmission risk. Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 may maintain long-term circulation in humans as seasonal IAVs. Co-existence and co-infection of both viruses in humans could alter disease transmission patterns and aggravate disease burden. Herein, we demonstrate how virus-host ecology correlates with the co-existence and co-infection of IAVs and/or CoVs, further affecting virus evolution and disease dynamics and burden, calling for active virus surveillance and countermeasures for future public health challenges.

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