H3N2 News and Research

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Influenza A virus subtype H3N2 (also H3N2) is a subtype of viruses that cause influenza (flu). H3N2 viruses can infect birds and mammals. In birds, humans, and pigs, the virus has mutated into many strains. H3N2 is increasingly abundant in seasonal influenza, which kills an estimated 36,000 people in the United States each year.

New antiviral drug drives treatment resistance in influenza viruses

On January 31, 2019, an 11-year old boy in Japan went to a medical clinic with a fever. The providers there diagnosed him with influenza, a strain called H3N2, and sent him home with a new medication called baloxavir.

25 Nov 2019

New flu drug makes influenza viruses develop resistance

Researchers have discovered a mutation in strains of influenza treated with a drug that makes the virus resistant to treatment.

25 Nov 2019

Novel antibodies could provide a universal flu vaccine

Now, a new study published in the journal Science on October 25, 2019, reports on a set of three novel antibodies that bind to another type of viral cell surface antigen called neuraminidase (NA) that is necessary for viral replication.

28 Oct 2019

Newly identified antibodies could lead to better treatments and vaccines for influenza

A newly identified set of three antibodies could lead to better treatments and vaccines against influenza, according to a paper published this week in Science.

25 Oct 2019

Infectious disease experts explain how to stay healthy during the flu season

About 40 million people contracted the flu last year, with hundreds of thousands hospitalized and 35,400 to 61,000 deaths, including 134 children, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

30 Sep 2019

Scientists 'on the right track' toward universal flu vaccine

New research could bring scientists a step closer to developing an effective, universal flu vaccine.

4 Jun 2019

Naturally occurring human antibody reveals hidden weakness in influenza virus

The ever-changing "head" of an influenza virus protein has an unexpected Achilles heel, report scientists funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, one of the National Institutes of Health.

17 May 2019

Common food preservative may influence effectiveness of flu vaccines

Michigan State University scientists have linked a common food preservative to an altered immune response that possibly hinders flu vaccines.

8 Apr 2019

Dogs could be source of novel human influenza strains, 10-year study suggests

Results from a 10-year study suggest two strains of influenza that could mix and form a dangerous new strain of influenza spread by dogs.

28 Mar 2019

Revolutionary ‘Heart in a Box’ transplantees hope for a bright future this Christmas

Last year two critically ill heart patients were facing an uncertain future, but this Christmas Scotland’s first revolutionary ‘Heart in a Box’ transplantees are looking forward with hope.

21 Dec 2018

New DNA vaccine strategy protects mice against lethal challenge by multiple H3N2 viruses

Researchers developed a novel DNA influenza vaccine based on four micro-consensus antigenic regions selected to represent the diversity of seasonal H3N2 viruses across decades.

18 Oct 2018

Genentech announces Phase III study results of baloxavir marboxil in people at high risk of flu

Genentech, a member of the Roche Group, today announced that the Phase III CAPSTONE-2 study showed treatment with baloxavir marboxil significantly reduced the time to improvement of influenza symptoms versus placebo in people at high risk of serious complications from the flu, which includes adults 65 years of age or older, or those who have conditions such as asthma, chronic lung disease, morbid obesity, or heart disease.

4 Oct 2018

Investigational nasal influenza vaccine tested in children and teens

An early-stage clinical trial testing the safety and immune-stimulating ability of an experimental nasal influenza vaccine in healthy 9- to 17-year-old children and teens has begun enrolling participants at a Vaccine and Treatment Evaluation Unit site at Saint Louis University, St. Louis, Missouri.

17 Sep 2018

CDC recommends people get flu shots soon

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been 16 weeks of non-stop flu season last year leading to 700,000 hospitalizations due to influenza as well as pneumonias that occurred as complications.

12 Sep 2018

Newly discovered mechanism may be useful target to stop flu virus from infecting cells

There's a hitch in the swing of a protein that delivers the flu virus. Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine researchers believe this mechanism may be a useful target to stop the virus from infecting cells.

24 Jul 2018

New research could pave way for better influenza vaccines

Influenza vaccines that better target the influenza surface protein called neuraminidase (NA) could offer broad protection against various influenza virus strains and lessen the severity of illness, according to new research published in Cell.

6 Apr 2018

Immune history influences person's response to flu vaccine

New research on why the influenza vaccine was only modestly effective in recent years shows that immune history with the flu influences a person's response to the vaccine.

20 Feb 2018

Universal vaccine produces long-lasting immunity against influenza A viruses in mice

Researchers have developed a universal vaccine to combat influenza A viruses that produces long-lasting immunity in mice and protects them against the limitations of seasonal flu vaccines, according to a study led by Georgia State University.

24 Jan 2018

Expert discusses how to stay healthy during flu season

This year's influenza outbreak is already the most widespread on record since health officials began keeping track about a dozen years ago, with millions of Americans being infected by emerging and current strains such as the dominant H3N2.

18 Jan 2018

New universal flu vaccine moves to clinical trial phase and could be a reality soon

Alphabet’s venture arm called Google Ventures earlier is one of the supporters of a mega projects that is developing a vaccine for flu that is safe and effective. Vaccitech from United Kingdom is working towards development of the vaccine and Alphabet has shown its support by contributing $27.6 million in new funding. The funds would be used conduct clinical trials and try the new vaccine.

16 Jan 2018