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NIAID Influenza Genome Project Shares Resources, Data

"The NIAID Influenza Genome Sequencing Project not only provides a valuable resource for current influenza researchers, it also will attract investigators from other fields. We anticipate that these data will be used to recognize patterns of genetic changes and illuminate important questions such as how avian influenza viruses adapt to infect humans." - Anthony S. Fauci, M.D. Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
(Source: NIAID News, November 15, 2004, http://www2.niaid.nih.gov/Newsroom/Releases/flugenome.htm)

The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases is the primary NIH institute tasked with research to prevent, detect, and treat infectious diseases such as influenza. NIH influenza research funding has increased from $20.6 million in fiscal year 2001 to an estimated $119.1 million in fiscal year 2005. The NIAID influenza research enterprise is multi-faceted and encompasses basic research leading to the discovery of vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics as well as clinical trials leading to their implementation. Influenza viruses present formidable scientific and public health challenges, because they undergo continual genetic changes that enable them to evade the body's immune response and sometimes become more virulent. Progress in influenza research depends on shared research resources and collaboration. In November 2004, NIAID launched the NIAID Influenza Genome Project, a multi-agency partnership involving other centers within NIH (the National Library of Medicine), federal agencies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology [AFIP]), state organizations (Wadsworth Center of the New York State Department of Health), academic institutions (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and Ohio State University), and others (The Institute for Genomic Research [TIGR]).

Through this collaboration influenza viruses are isolated from samples collected worldwide from humans, birds, pigs, and other animals. Following selection, the viral isolates are prepared, and sequenced. The genomic sequences are then submitted to the publicly accessible GenBank. Beginning with only seven sequences when the project was launched, in just over six months the full genomic sequences of 182 influenza isolates have been released as of May 25, 2005. These data can now be used to study how the influenza virus evolves, spreads, and causes disease (basic research) as well as in the development of drugs, vaccines, and diagnostics (applied research). The objective of the Influenza Genome Sequencing Project is to provide a freely available resource to the community on a public database. Understanding the molecular evolution of influenza viruses may shed light on potential pandemic viruses. Analysis of the complete genomic sequences of influenza viruses may help define the molecular mechanisms contributing to their emergence and pathogenesis. This knowledge can be used to further efforts to track evolution of the influenza virus, and to ultimately develop vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics to combat influenza. The NIAID Influenza Genome Sequencing Project: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genomes/FLU/FLU.html