Barbara Camilloni is presently researcher at the Univesity of Perugia. She completed herrnPostgraduate School in Microbiology and Virology and Ph.D. in “Molecular pathogenesis, immunology and control of transmissible agents causing major illnesses associated with poverty (malaria, tuberculosis and AIDS). Her major research mainly focus on Virological monitoring of seasonal influenza and pandemic as part of coordinated Italian surveillance network (InfluNet). She also worked on Evaluation of the effectiveness of influenza vaccination in the elderly and Surveillance of acute flaccid paralysis (national / international program of polio eradication), Virological surveillance of rotavirus infections in children.

In influenza vaccine efficacy studies, virus identification is considered the ideal end point. This approach, especially if performed in large populations could be difficult to carry out and the results could depend on the level of influenza viruses’ circulation. This is why serological studies are often used as surrogate methods. Here we analyze the antibody response of 181 elderly volunteers (aged ≥65 years) to 2014-15 influenza vaccine to understand if serological data are able to predict the vaccine efficacy. We compared the response of those who have or have not had a serologically evidenced influenza infection after vaccination (the volunteers that had a seroconversion on comparing hemagglutination inhibiting (HI) titers found 1 and 6 months after vaccination were considered positive for serological evidence of recent infection). Before vaccination the infected group showed lower antibody levels than uninfected volunteers, after vaccination these differences increased. Dividing the infected volunteers according to the absence or the presence of influenza like illness (ILI) and to the severity of the ILI, we found that, 1 month after vaccination, 80-90% of volunteers with severe infections or with mild infections, respectively, were unprotected (HI<40). On the other hand, among the infected volunteers not showing ILI and the non-infected volunteers, more than half were found to be protected. Although the validity of using serologic confirmation of infection rather than virus identification to determine vaccine efficacy has been questioned, our results, though obtained analyzing a small population, confirm the validity of the serological approach.

Ya-Yzu Chang is a Public Health Officer of the Department of Division of Preparedness and Emerging Infectious Disease in Taiwan Centers for Disease Control. She is responsible for policy making of influenza prevention and control and has handled experiences on 2009 H1N1 pandemic influenza and H7N9 influenza in Taiwan.

The 2015-2016 influenza season, was a tough period for Taiwan, having 1932 confirmed severe and complicated influenza cases including 328 estimated deaths. Most severe cases (about 77%) were infected with influenza A (H1N1) pdm09 virus. The majority of severe complicated influenza cases and deaths were adult aged 50-64 years. The incidences among all age groups were highest compared to the same period in the last 3 years, especially in the 50-64 age group. The main attacked age group changed from 65 years above to 50-64 years, similar demographic pattern seen in 2009 H1N1 pandemic. The government-funded influenza vaccination program in 2015-2016, following the international consensus, mainly targeted the elders aged more than 65 years, children aged six months through elementary school students and people aged above 50 years with chronic medical conditions. As a result, most people aged 50-64 years have not received influenza vaccines. In addition, the coverage rate of people with chronic diseases was only about 9%. Due to these reasons, in 2016/17 season, we plan to increase the purchase of influenza vaccines and vaccination points, as well as the awareness of the public, to improve the vaccination coverage rates and subsequently lower influenza incidence among people with chronic diseases.

Divocha Valentina in 1967 she graduated from I. I. Mechnikov Odessa State University, Faculty of Biology (Department of Virology). In 1973 continued her postgraduate study ate Odessa Institute ofrnVirology and Epidemiology (specialty virology). In 1974 she was awarded her candidate degreernwith the thesis \"Interaction of Coxsackie B viruses with sensitive cell cultures and their antigenic relationships.\" In 2009 she was awarded her doctoral degree with the thesis entitled \"Biological basis antiprotease therapy of influenza.\"Under her leadership performed a doctoral and two master\'srntheses. Scientific experience is 35 years. I have more than 186 scientific publications, 2011rnmonograph, textbook \"Virology\" (2012), 10 patents, 3 innovations. I am currently working as the head of the Laboratory of Experimental and Clinical Pathology for Ukrainian Research Institute of Transport Medicine, is the supervisor of the nine research programs in virology and biochemistry.

Interaction of virus and cell in the pathogenesis of viral diseases is insufficiently studied. The mainrnpoint here is penetration of virus into a healthy cell with an obligatory virus’ deproteinization.rnHowever the deproteinization of viruses is studied insufficiently. First of all it refers to thernmechanisms of introduction of flu virus in the cells of mammals, including humans. In this regardrnin 1983 we offered the new theory of flu pathogenesis with participation of proteinases-inhibitoryrnsystem. Objective – to study the state and role antiproteinasis systems of the virus and recipient inrnthe development of an influenza infection for receiving essentially new medical preparations on thernbasis of inhibitors of trypsin-like proteinases.METHODS. In work presented we used flu viruses,rnA/PR/8/34 (H1N1), AO/32(H1N1) strains, white mice, chicken embryos, white rats, waste of γ-rnglobulin and albumin manufacturing, human interferon and immunoglobulin, herpetic, gonococcusrnand tularemia vaccines and medicines: Influvac, Fluarix, Vaxigrip – anti-influenza vaccines,rnAvaxim – vaccine for hepatitis A and blood preparations - Fraxiparine, Solcoseryl. RESULTS. Itrnhas been established that cleaning and concentration of influenza virus A various by differentrnmethods doesn\'t exempt virus from cellular enzymes – trypsin-like proteinases and their inhibitors.rnBoth domestic (human immunoglobulin and interferon, anti-influenzal and herpetic vaccines), andrnforeign preparations (Influvac, Fluarix, Vaxigrip, Avaxim, Fraxiparine and Solcoseryl) had trypsinlikernproteinase and its inhibitor in their structure. In the experiments on the white mice at infectionrnwith flu A virus there was a violation of proteinase - inhibitory balance, especially during the firstrnhours after contamination. From the lungs of healthy mice six isoforms of trypsin-like proteinasernhave been allocated and antiproteinase immune serums were received to them. At the treatment ofrnthe animals infected with a lethal dose of flu A virus, only one serum (to the third isoform) hasrnprotected white mice from death. From the waste of γ-globulin manufacture of donor blood,rninhibitor of trypsin - like proteinases which protected for 80% of white mice from death, wasrnemitted. CONCLUSIONS. Endogenous inhibitors of human blood proteinases are perspectivernpreparations in the fight with flu in humans.

Hany Khalil has completed his PhD at the age of 35 years from Humboldt University in collaboration with Max-Planck Institute for Infection Biology followed by 6 months postdoctoral fellowship at Max-Planck Institute for Infection Biology, Berlin, Germany . Additional 4 months postdoctoral fellowship at Wexner Medical Research Center, Ohio State University, USA. He is the Assistant Professor at Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Department of Molecular Biology, University of Sadat City Egypt. He is Principle Investigator in Two different projects supported by (STDF) projects ID,6117 and project ID, 4694.

Influenza A virus is a negative RNA stranded virus of the family Orthomyxoviridae, and represents a major public health threat, compounding existing disease conditions. Influenza A virus replicates rapidly within its host and the segmented nature of its genome facilitates re-assortment, whereby whole genes are exchanged between influenza virus subtypes during replication. Antiviral medications are important pharmacological tools in influenza virus prophylaxis and therapy. However, the use of currently available antiviral is impeded by sometimes high levels of resistance in circulating virus strains. Notably, the over use of existing antiviral drugs such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) and zanamavir (Relenza) increases the likelihood of viral escape mutations. Here, we identified novel anti-influenza compounds through screening of chemical compounds that synthesized de novo and several naturally occurring products on human lung epithelial cells. Computational and experimental screening of extensive natural products and water soluble chemical compounds identified novel influenza virus inhibitors that can reduce influenza virus infection without any detectable toxic effects on host cells. Interestingly, the indicated active chemical compounds inhibit viral replication most likely via interaction with cell receptors and disturb influenza virus entry into host cells. Additionally, the selected natural product inhabits viral replication via increasing of interferon beta (IFN-β) production from infected cells. In conclusion, screening of new synthesis compounds and natural extractions on influenza A virus replication provides a novel and efficacious anti-influenza compounds that can inhibit viral replication and indicates that these compounds are attractive candidates for evaluation as a potential anti-influenza.