---

This book reviews current knowledge of viral pathogenicity, the functions of viral proteins and the development of novel influenza vaccines, ranging from protocols for virus isolation, growth, and subtyping to procedures for the generation of influenza virus.

---

Reports of influenza-like illnesses date back to the Middle Ages, and outbreaks of influenza likely afflicted humans long before that. Over the last half century, influenza virus research has led to the development of two classes of antivirals - ion channel and neuraminidase inhibitors. Recently, a method of the artificial generation of an influenza virus was established. This system has been instrumental in the development of novel influenza vaccines and in the understanding of viral pathogenicity and the functions of viral proteins. Influenza Virus: Methods and Protocols summarizes the current techniques that have made this progress possible, ranging from protocols for virus isolation, growth, and subtyping to procedures for the efficient generation of any influenza virus. Written in the successful Methods in Molecular Biology(TM) series format, chapters include introductions to their respective topics, lists of the necessary materials and reagents, step-by-step, readily reproducible protocols, and notes on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.

Authoritative and easily accessible, Influenza Virus: Methods and Protocols seeks to serve both professionals and novices with the techniques used in numerous laboratories around the world that are, thus, the building blocks that underpin almost all influenza virus research.

---

1. Influenza Viruses - An Introduction

Yoshihiro Kawaoka and Gabriele Neumann

2. Influenza Virus Isolation

Scott Krauss, David Walker, and Robert G. Webster

3. Influenza Virus Titration, Antigenic Characterization, and Serological Methods for Antibody Detection

Alexander Klimov, Amanda Balish, Vic Veguilla, Hong Sun, Jarad Schiffer, Xiuhua Lu, Jacqueline M. Katz, and Kathy Hancock

4. Diagnosis of Influenza Virus

Kirsten St. George

5. Solid-phase Assays of Receptor-binding Specificity

Mikhail N. Matrosovich and Alexandra S. Gambaryan

6. The Chemiluminescent Neuraminidase Inhibition Assay: A Functional Method for Detection of Influenza Virus Resistance to the Neuraminidase Inhibitors

Margaret Okomo-Adhiambo, Aeron C. Hurt, and Larisa V. Gubareva

7. The Fluorescence Neuraminidase Inhibition Assay: A Functional Method for Detection of Influenza Virus Resistance to the Neuraminidase Inhibitors

Aeron C. Hurt, Margaret Okomo-Adhiambo, and Larisa V. Gubareva

8. Animal Models

Edwin J.B. Veldhuis Kroeze, Thijs Kuiken, and Albert D.M.E. Osterhaus

9. Influenza Virus Surveillance, Vaccine Strain Selection and Manufacture

Klaus Stöhr, Doris Bucher, Tony Colgate, and John Wood

10. Genetic Engineering of Live Attenuated Influenza Viruses

Hong Jin, Zhongying Chen, Jonathan Liu, and George Kemble

11. Influenza A Virus Molecular Virology Techniques

Bin Zhou and David E. Wentworth

12. Reverse Genetics of Influenza Viruses

Gabriele Neumann, Makoto Ozawa, and Yoshihiro Kawaoka

13. Genetic Analysis

Gavin J.D. Smith, Justin Bahl, and Vijaykrishna Dhanasekaran

---