Cracking the Code for H5N1-Bird Flu and Beyond

Title: Cracking the Code for H5N1-Bird Flu and Beyond

Volume: 6 Issue: 4

Author(s): Robin J. Thomson, Thomas Haselhorst, Jeffrey C. Dyason and Mark von Itzstein

Affiliation:

Keywords: Carbohydrates, Influenza Virus, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, Structural Biology, Anti-virals

Abstract: Influenza virus remains a significant threat to humanity despite the discovery of novel anti-viral therapies and the continuing development of seasonal vaccines. The reason for this ongoing concern is that the development of drug resistance to anti-virals has rapidly occurred and the currently developed vaccines are typically only effective against a specific influenza virus strain. The continual emergence of new influenza virus strains that may lead to the next human pandemic has inspired much research into a better understanding of the virus, particularly the role(s) of carbohydrates in the virus lifecycle. Much of this research is directed towards next generation anti-influenza drugs. Important advances in the interrogation of influenza virus surface glycoprotein haemagglutinin by NMR spectroscopy have been made in recent times. An overview of some of these advances is provided.

Cite this article as:

Thomson J. Robin, Haselhorst Thomas, Dyason C. Jeffrey and Itzstein von Mark, Cracking the Code for H5N1-Bird Flu and Beyond, Current Drug Delivery 2009; 6 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/156720109789000555