VARIABILITY OF THE INFLUENZA A VIRUS

Abstract

Aim. To investigate the mechanisms of variability of the influenza virus.Discussion. Influenza is one of the most significant problems facing the health care system. Human influenza causes a number of social and economic problems: mortality in high-risk groups, increasing in the load on personnel agencies health and reduced manpower. Features of the influenza virus genome enable the pathogen to cause seasonal epidemics each year, despite the preventive measures (vaccination) and using of specific antiviral drugs.Conclusion. Variability of the influenza virus genome is provided by antigenic drift, antigenic shift and recombination. This mechanisms of the variability of influenza virus that allow to remain a highly contagious infectious agent able to infect a large number of host species and cause significant problems as a result of epidemics and pandemics.

Keywords

• influenza virus
• variability
• antigenic drift
• antigenic shift
• hemagglutinin
• neuraminidase
• evolution