Virology Program

The Swine Flu and Influenza: What a Difference a Number Makes

Over 36,000 people in the US die of Influenza infection each year.  Frequently we are concerned about the possible risk of a pandemic because the virus is spread through the air and enters our respiratory system. A few years ago it was bird flu (H5N1) mostly a scare, and this year it is swine flu (H1N1) a real threat.  In the 60s we feared horse flu  H3N8 but not the equine strain H7N7. The differences lie in the numbers 1,2 and 3, it must  be one of these three to infect a human. Influenza A virus strains are categorized according to two viral proteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). All influenza A viruses contain hemagglutinin and neuraminidase, but the structure of these proteins differs from strain to strain due to rapid genetic mutation in the viral genome. Influenza A virus strains are assigned an H number and an N number based on which forms of these two proteins the strain contains. Procedures to inactivate H1, H2 and H3 are available at Gibraltar in our ATCC/US Government-approved BSL-3 pathogen lab- Please contact us for more information.

A large collection of DNA and RNA virus from various physico-chemcal groups are available for testing in our stock culture collection, including human, canine, feline, bovine and porcine agents. Test methods include three modalities:

1-     Virucidal (Chemical contact germicides, disinfectants) (EPA)

2-     Antiviral (Chemotherapetic agents in cell culture or chick embryo).

3-     Barrier Testing

In addition, viral detection procedures are available for biologicals, cosmetics or other materials suspected of harboring virions, including vaccine plants and other manufacturing facilities that are part of an environmental monitoring program.

Archive publications from our Research Department are available, e.g. Chapter 28, 5^th ed. (S.S. Block ed.)

Disinfection, Sterilization and Preservation, Lipincott Williams & Wilkens, 2000.

CLASSIFICATION	VIRUS
1. ADENOVIRIDAE	Adenovirus 2 and 5
2. CALICIVIRIDAE	Feline Calicivirus (Norwalk Surrogate)
3. CORONAVIRIDAE	Human Corona virus
4. HERPESVIRIDAE	HSV1 and HSV2
5. ORTHOMYXOVIRIDAE	Influenza A2, Hong Kong 8/68 Influenza A/Avian/Turkey/Wisconsin/68 Influenza A/Myna Bird/Mass/71 Influenza B/Allen/45 Swine Flu H1N1
6. PARAMYXOVIRIDAE	Newcastle Disease Virus Parainfluenza 1 (Sendai) Measles Edmonton Mumps (in development)
7. PARVOVIRIDAE	Porcine Parvovirus Bovine (in development) Feline Panleukopenia (in development)
8. PICORNAVIRIDAE	Coxsackie B3 Poliovirus 1 (Chat) Poliovirus 2 (Lansing) Rhinovirus 42 HAV Vaccinia (Wyeth)
9. POXVIRIDAE	Vaccinia virus (Wyeth)
10. SPECIAL REQUESTS	HUMAN HIV-1,Reovirus, Rotavirus, ECHO virus, Mumps, Influenza C, Influenza A/Brazil, Cytomegalovirus ANIMAL TGE (Porcine), Canine Herpes, Equine Herpes, Pseudorabies, Vesicular Stomatitis Virus, Infectious Bovine Tracheitis, Equine Influenza, other adventitious agents (Biopharmaceuticals)