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Review
. 2025 Jun 25;89(2):e0006624.
doi: 10.1128/mmbr.00066-24. Epub 2025 May 9.

Viral factors underlying the pandemic potential of influenza viruses

Gabriele Neumann  1 , Amie J Eisfeld  1 , Yoshihiro Kawaoka  1   2   3   4
Affiliations
Review

Viral factors underlying the pandemic potential of influenza viruses

Gabriele Neumann et al. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev. .

Abstract

SUMMARYOver the past 25 years, there has been an increasing number of mammalian (including human) infections caused by avian influenza A viruses that resulted in mild to severe illnesses. These viruses typically did not spread between mammals through aerosols in nature or in experimental settings. However, recently, this has changed, with several avian influenza A viruses exhibiting aerosol transmissibility among mammals, indicating that these viruses may pose a greater pandemic risk. In this review, we examine the current situation and discuss the mutations that may be necessary for avian influenza A viruses to efficiently replicate in mammals and transmit among them via aerosols.

Keywords: H5; HA; NP; PB2; highly pathogenic; influenza.

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Conflict of interest statement

Y.K. has received grant support from Daiichi Sankyo Pharmaceutical, Toyama Chemical, Tauns Laboratories, Shionogi, Otsuka Pharmaceutical, KM Biologics, Kyoritsu Seiyaku, Shinya Corporation, and Fuji Rebio. Y.K. and G.N. are co-founders of FluGen.

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