The passive strategy: Increasing the force in the battle against influenza

Abstract

In this issue of Biotechnology Journal, Shembekar et al. [1] describe, for the first time, successful humanization of a mouse-derived monoclonal antibody against the pandemic H1N1 influenza A virus. Influenza virus is a major human pathogen that causes annual epidemics as well as occasional pandemics and influenza's impact on human health and the global economy is substantial. To complicate matters, the number of antigenic variations of influenza is nearly endless and emergence of new viruses is unpredictable. It is therefore not surprising that many different strategies have been developed in the fight against influenza, ranging from simple hygiene measures, antiviral drugs, to whole virus and subunit vaccines.