Influenza viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae that causes acute respiratory infection in a wide range of hosts from aquatic birds to mammals, accounting for large number of deaths each year across the world. The symptoms usually start between 1-4 days after exposure to the virus and may last for about 2-8 days. Infected individuals present with symptoms ranging from mild respiratory illness to severe complications, sometimes leading to death. They are enveloped RNA viruses that cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Of the four types of influenza viruses (influenza A, B, C and D), the influenza A viruses have been majorly responsible for disease, infecting a variety of animals, including humans. In spite of continued surveillance programs across the globe, these viruses still manage to cause frequent outbreaks contributing to global disease burden and often posing serious health threats to high-risk people. Other related respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV2, RSV, Adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and many others, also contribute significantly to the global disease burden. The recent emergence of SARS-CoV2 caused a pandemic affecting entire world in a short period and still continues to pose a significant health threat to humankind. Similarly, other respiratory virus outbreaks cause severe infections in all age groups, more specifically affecting very young and elderly individuals. Morbidity often results from a direct viral infection, or indirectly through exacerbation of a preexisting illness or bacterial superinfection, thus making their timely diagnosis crucial for disease management.
The changing pattern in the epidemiology of influenza viruses underscores the importance of continuous surveillance and management strategies. A multisite surveillance program in every nation efficiently helps in accumulating statistically significant epidemiological data that further helps in the vaccine formulations each year. There has also been a significant concern related to influenza viruses jumping the species barrier. This not only puts humans at health risk but also significantly affects a nation’s economy. The newly reassortant viruses can pose a serious challenge in their management and treatment strategies. The most recent 2009-H1N1 influenza pandemic is the best example of their ability to undergo genetic re-assortment interspecies leading to a global disease burden with an unprecedented spread.
In the wake of ongoing SARS-CoV2 pandemic, it is extremely important to monitor the changing trends and epidemiology of influenza viruses. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of concurrent influenza infections in patients infected with SARS-CoV2 and other respiratory viruses.
Vaccination is still the best strategy to prevent influenza, however the high rate of mutations in the viral genome demands continuous worldwide efforts to develop effective antiviral strategies and other therapeutics. Such studies will enhance the understanding of the viral pathogenesis and help the scientific community to develop better strategies to manage yearly epidemics and unpredicted pandemics.
The Guest-Editors of this Research Topic welcome original research articles, perspectives, methods, and reviews, and aim to assemble a collection of articles highlighting, but not limited to:
• Epidemiology of influenza and other respiratory viruses
• Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis
• Development of molecular assays, diagnostic tests and therapeutics against influenza and other respiratory viruses
• Vaccine development and antiviral strategies for influenza and other respiratory viruses
• Recent findings related to influenza and SARS-CoV2 co-infections
Influenza viruses are members of the family Orthomyxoviridae that causes acute respiratory infection in a wide range of hosts from aquatic birds to mammals, accounting for large number of deaths each year across the world. The symptoms usually start between 1-4 days after exposure to the virus and may last for about 2-8 days. Infected individuals present with symptoms ranging from mild respiratory illness to severe complications, sometimes leading to death. They are enveloped RNA viruses that cause annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Of the four types of influenza viruses (influenza A, B, C and D), the influenza A viruses have been majorly responsible for disease, infecting a variety of animals, including humans. In spite of continued surveillance programs across the globe, these viruses still manage to cause frequent outbreaks contributing to global disease burden and often posing serious health threats to high-risk people. Other related respiratory viruses, such as SARS-CoV2, RSV, Adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, and many others, also contribute significantly to the global disease burden. The recent emergence of SARS-CoV2 caused a pandemic affecting entire world in a short period and still continues to pose a significant health threat to humankind. Similarly, other respiratory virus outbreaks cause severe infections in all age groups, more specifically affecting very young and elderly individuals. Morbidity often results from a direct viral infection, or indirectly through exacerbation of a preexisting illness or bacterial superinfection, thus making their timely diagnosis crucial for disease management.
The changing pattern in the epidemiology of influenza viruses underscores the importance of continuous surveillance and management strategies. A multisite surveillance program in every nation efficiently helps in accumulating statistically significant epidemiological data that further helps in the vaccine formulations each year. There has also been a significant concern related to influenza viruses jumping the species barrier. This not only puts humans at health risk but also significantly affects a nation’s economy. The newly reassortant viruses can pose a serious challenge in their management and treatment strategies. The most recent 2009-H1N1 influenza pandemic is the best example of their ability to undergo genetic re-assortment interspecies leading to a global disease burden with an unprecedented spread.
In the wake of ongoing SARS-CoV2 pandemic, it is extremely important to monitor the changing trends and epidemiology of influenza viruses. It is crucial to understand the pathophysiology of concurrent influenza infections in patients infected with SARS-CoV2 and other respiratory viruses.
Vaccination is still the best strategy to prevent influenza, however the high rate of mutations in the viral genome demands continuous worldwide efforts to develop effective antiviral strategies and other therapeutics. Such studies will enhance the understanding of the viral pathogenesis and help the scientific community to develop better strategies to manage yearly epidemics and unpredicted pandemics.
The Guest-Editors of this Research Topic welcome original research articles, perspectives, methods, and reviews, and aim to assemble a collection of articles highlighting, but not limited to:
• Epidemiology of influenza and other respiratory viruses
• Mechanisms of viral pathogenesis
• Development of molecular assays, diagnostic tests and therapeutics against influenza and other respiratory viruses
• Vaccine development and antiviral strategies for influenza and other respiratory viruses
• Recent findings related to influenza and SARS-CoV2 co-infections
