Influenza virus articles from across Nature Portfolio

Bartha et al. investigate the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 towards an endemic state. Real world data on over 600,000 individuals and from wastewater surveillance show loss of SARS-CoV-2 virulence and patterns of morbidity similar to influenza.

The authors identify one emerging H2N2 AIV, reveal the molecular basis of human-type receptor binding of the H2N2 AIV and pandemic strains, and evaluate the public risk of H2N2 AIV by its infection, transmission and mammalian-adaptation features.

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the number of influenza viruses circulating globally fell to historically low numbers. Although influenza A and B/Victoria lineage viruses returned to normal patterns by 2022, B/Yamagata-lineage viruses have not been identified since 2020. The implications of the apparent extinction of this lineage of viruses on vaccine composition, and the risk of their re-introduction into the human population are discussed.

Two studies reveal high transmissibility and lethality of the viral isolate in animal models, and hint at potential drug susceptibility — but further analysis and ongoing surveillance of infections will be critical for public health.

Stockpiled A(H5N1) influenza vaccines made using viruses from the mid-2000s stimulate antibodies that cross-react with current strains, despite being separated by 20 years of viral evolution — supporting investment in vaccine stockpiling for pandemic preparedness.

Longitudinal sampling of human lymph nodes using fine-needle aspiration after influenza or SARS-CoV-2 vaccination reveals substantial durability and transcriptional reprogramming of follicular helper T cells over time.