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NIAID and 2009 H1N1 Influenza (Swine Flu)- The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) has a longstanding commitment to research on influenza, including basic research to understand how influenza viruses evolve and research to develop new and improved ways to prevent, diagnose, and treat influenza disease.
- While the current outbreak of 2009 H1N1 influenza (swine flu) was unexpected, the Institute is well positioned to study this outbreak and contribute to efforts to combat the currently circulating H1N1 influenza virus.
- NIAID influenza experts are working with colleagues at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and throughout the government to provide advice, knowledge, and support in the response to this outbreak. This includes working with our partners at the CDC, FDA and in industry on the next stages of making a vaccine against this novel virus. An immediate priority is the development and testing of a seed virus strain that could be produced in pilot lots by the private sector. The development of these seed viruses has already started as part of a pre-arranged plan. The NIAID clinical trials infrastructure -- called the Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Units -- is at the ready to quickly evaluate pilot lots of vaccine candidates to determine safety and immunogenicity of the candidate vaccine.
- The currently circulating H1N1 virus is sensitive to the two major antiviral drugs in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile – oseltamivir and zanamivir. However, experience tells us that drug resistance can occur and NIH is working to develop and test the next generation of flu antivirals. The CDC has new and sensitive diagnostics already available, including the M-Chip, which is a diagnostic tool developed with NIAID support. NIH research continues to support next-generation diagnostics. Read more about the M-Chip.
- Scientists in NIAID laboratories as well as NIAID grantees and contractors around the world have been studying diverse influenza viruses, contributing to the knowledge that will help us understand this current outbreak and lead to the development of new diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments.
- NIAID-supported research includes research to better understand the biology of influenza viruses. For example, researchers are studying the evolution, adaptation, and pathogenesis of swine influenza viruses as well as how influenza viruses are transmitted between animals, that is, from bird to swine or from swine to swine.
- Research also includes domestic and international surveillance to collect, identify, and sequence the genomes of influenza viruses circulating in wild and domestic swine.
- For example, researchers at the NIAID Centers of Excellence for Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) conduct influenza surveillance in animals and study influenza pathogenesis and the host response to the influenza virus. Read more.
- Researchers in laboratories on the NIH campus are studying the basic biology of influenza, including its pathogenesis, immunogenicity, transmissibility and genetic variability. This research includes investigating host immune responses to the virus in animal models and in humans; developing vaccines to prevent influenza, especially strains with pandemic potential; and studying influenza epidemiology. Read more.
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