Influenza virus infection is a major global healthcare problem impacting work productivity and daily function. Seasonal influenza epidemics and recent pandemics emphasise the need for better vaccines.
Influenza A virus (IAV) variants are subtyped on the basis of heterogeneity of the viral surface proteins haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA), which comprise the major targets for natural host immunity. However, due to the continual accumulation of amino acid changes, known as antigenic drift, immunity to one IAV strain does not protect against other strains.
Further details: A universal influenza vaccine