Abstract:
In the last one hundred years, several major influenza pandemics occurred, each of which resulted in millions of human deaths. Since this April, the A/H1N1 influenza virus that originally appeared in Mexico has quickly spread to other continents, posing a threat to the global population. Vaccination has been demonstrated to be the most effective way to prevent virus infection and transmission. However, influenza viruses keep mutating constantly. Thus, there is always a battle between newly emerging influenza viruses and the developed corresponding vaccines. In this article, some basic yet important knowledge regarding influenza virus is introduced, and traditional and modern approaches to influenza vaccines are discussed. It is believed that, by employing advanced molecular biology tools and recombinant production technologies, effective influenza vaccines can be rapidly designed and produced for global vaccination in response to potential pandemic threat.

Key words: influenza, vaccine, nfluenza virus, A/H1N1, H5N1