RNA structure interactions and ribonucleoprotein processes of the influenza A virus

Dawson, Wayne K; Lazniewski, Michal; Plewczynski, Dariusz

The IAVs are among the fastest evolving families of viruses [6] and are notable for their ability to rapidly change from one season to the next or even within seasons [7] . Over the course of a few generations, the virus can change sufficiently to become virulent. Like many emerging infectious diseases such as Ebola virus or severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) [8] , IAV depends on animal reservoirs, where they can reside [9] [10] [11] [12] [13] and transfer between species that share the same environment [14] . As one major reservoir involves migratory birds [15] , the potential to rapidly spread an infection throughout the world is of major concern and IAV is under constant watch (http://www.who.int/ csr/don/archive/year/en/). During the past 100 years, there have been three major epidemics with extensive fatalities [16] and one minor one (mostly because of quick action from the WHO and health practitioners) [17, 18] , the Spanish flu (1918, H1N1, 75 million fatalities worldwide), the Asian flu (1957, H2N2, 2 million fatalities), the Hong Kong flu (1968, H3N2, 1 million fatalities) and more recently the swine flu (2009, H1N1, 14 000 fatalities).