Main description:

The threat constituted by the multiple outbreaks of avian influenza during the last few years is urgently calling for the development of new influenza vaccines. Fortunately, a quantum leap in technology has revolutionized the study of influenza and the engineering of new vaccine strains by reverse genetics. This volume provides a historical background and state-of-the-art information about the recent advances in the biology of influenza and the design of new influenza vaccines.

Contents:

Introduction.- Influenza virus: The biology of a changing virus.- Influenza vaccines have a short but illustrious history.- The epidemiology of influenza and its control.- Influenza and influenza vaccination in children.- The immune response to influenza A viruses.- Correlates of protection against influenza.- The role of animal models in influenza vaccine research.- Live attenuated influenza vaccine.- MF59: A safe and potent oil in water emulsion adjuvant for influenza vaccines, which induces enhanced protection against virus challenge.- Non-recent history of influenza pandemics, vaccines and adjuvants.- Waiting for a pandemic.- Modeling influenza pandemic and interventions.