Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
10:05
High-throughput Detection Method for Influenza Virus
Published on: February 4, 2012
FluGenome: a web tool for genotyping influenza A virus
Guoqing Lu1, Thaine Rowley, Rebecca Garten
1Department of Biology, University of Nebraska at Omaha, Omaha, NE, USA.
Nucleic Acids Research
|June 1, 2007
Summary
A new nomenclature and web server, FluGenome, were developed to name influenza A genotypes and analyze genetic reassortment. This tool aids in understanding influenza virus evolution, host range, and transmissibility.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Bioinformatics
- Genetics
Background:
- Influenza A viruses evolve through genetic reassortment of their eight RNA segments.
- Distinct viral lineages have emerged globally due to diverse avian and mammalian hosts.
- A standardized nomenclature is crucial for describing reassortment events.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a comprehensive nomenclature for influenza A genotypes.
- To create a web server (FluGenome) for assigning lineages and genotypes.
- To facilitate the analysis of genetic reassortment in influenza A virus evolution.
Main Methods:
- Development of a novel nomenclature for influenza A genotypes.
- Implementation of the FluGenome web server (http://www.flugenome.org/).
- Integration of database interrogation and reporting functions for lineages and genotypes.
Main Results:
- A standardized system for naming influenza A genotypes has been established.
- The FluGenome web server enables automatic assignment of lineages and genotypes.
- The tool can detect genotype variations resulting from reassortment events.
Conclusions:
- FluGenome provides essential bioinformatic tools for influenza A reassortment analysis.
- This resource aids in understanding the impact of reassortment on viral evolution, host range, and virulence.
- The developed nomenclature and server advance the study of influenza A virus diversity.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Influenza
Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
01:26Human Virome
The human body harbors a vast and diverse viral community known as the human virome. The virome includes bacteriophages that infect bacteria, and eukaryotic viruses that infect human cells. Transient dietary and environmental viruses also contribute to this dynamic ecosystem. Estimates suggest the human body may contain on the order of 10¹³ viral particles, though abundance varies widely by body site and detection method.Comprehensive characterization of the virome has become possible only with...
01:23Bacteriophages of the Human Virome
Bacteriophages are found throughout the human body. They may even outnumber eukaryotic viruses, forming an important and dynamic component of the human virome. Indeed, phages represent the most abundant viral entities, with densities in the gut reaching up to 10⁹ particles per gram of fecal matter, and many belonging to orders such as Caudovirales and Microviridae, while a substantial proportion remains unclassified as viral “dark matter.”Lysogeny and Genetic ExchangeIn the gut, bacteriophages...
01:25Rapid Identification of Pathogens
MALDI-TOF MS has transformed clinical microbiology by offering a rapid and reliable method for pathogen identification. The traditional approach to microbial identification typically involves time-consuming culture techniques and biochemical tests, which can delay the initiation of appropriate antimicrobial therapy. MALDI-TOF MS avoids these delays by using characteristic ribosomal protein mass patterns of microbial cells, enabling accurate species-level identification within minutes.Principle...
01:29Viruses with RNA Genomes
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...