Construction and application of the recombinant influenza viruses

Abstract

Recently established reverse genetics of influenza virus allows us to generate the recombinant viruses with arbitrarily modified viral proteins. The recombinant viruses are now utilized as useful tools in basic research fields. Moreover, in application, H5N1 pre-pandemic vaccines, which are now stockpiled in many countries, were generated by using the reverse genetics to attenuate the virus. In the future, the technology of reverse genetics will contribute us to develop the next generation of influenza vaccines. On the other hand, construction of the recombinant viruses that express foreign proteins, epitopes, or genes may lead to application for multivalent vaccines inducing effective immune responses and vectors for gene therapy. A variety of such approaches are now in underway to exploit recombinant viruses for practical use.