Influenza viruses exist in many forms, with varying levels of pathogenicity. One well-known example is avian influenza, which ranges from low-pathogenic (LPAI) to highly pathogenic (HPAI) strains. Highly pathogenic strains are essential for understanding emerging threats and developing diagnostics, vaccines, and antivirals, but they come with significant challenges, including BSL-3 containment requirements, global shipping restrictions, and increased safety risks for scientists.
How Reverse Genetics Enables Safer Influenza Research
Reverse genetics revolutionized influenza research in the late 1990s. Today, scientists use plasmid-based…
