[Antigenic evolution of influenza virus and the implications for influenza vaccine development].

Influenza virus has a continuous and extensive impact on human health around the world. Its extensive animal host characteristics and highly variable characteristics lead to continuous antigen drift and change of susceptible populations, causing repeated global influenza epidemics, and also affecting the protective effect of seasonal influenza vaccine. This research in a number of subtypes of influenza a virus, for example, from the antigenic drift of antigenicity, influence of the seasonal influenza vaccine strains and popular strain compatibility, broad-spectrum flu vaccine development train of thought, etc. summarizes the progress of relevant research, to deepen the understanding of the influenza virus antigenic evolution, provide reference for flu vaccine development in the future.

Beneficial effects of a probiotic blend on gastrointestinal side effects induced by leflunomide and amlodipine in a rat model.

Patients with metabolic disorders frequently suffer from side effects induced by long-term oral medications. The present study using a rat model system indicated that leflunomide (LF) and amlodipine (AMD), the active ingredients contained in the medications for rheumatoid arthritis and hypertension, respectively, appeared to induce various bowel problems including constipation and inflammation. In the small and large intestine, LF increased the expression of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1ß, and IL-6 compared to the null control and AMD increased the expression of both TNF-α and IL-1ß, although its effect on IL-6 was only increased in the large intestine. It is noteworthy that the probiotic blend tested was found to alleviate intestinal complications caused by LF and AMD. Analysis of the gut microbiota revealed that AMD induced compositional changes in the gut microbiota. Namely, members of the phylum Bacteroidetes, which constituted only about 0.3% of the microbiota in the null control, made up more than 10% of the total composition in the AMD-administered rats. Interestingly, the probiotic blend was also found to normaliSe the gut microbiota.