Erica Spackman (editor) - Animal Influenza Virus: Methods and Protocols (Methods in Molecular Biology (2123), Band 2123)

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For over 35 years, biological scientists have come to rely on the research protocols and methodologies in the critically acclaimedMethods in Molecular Biologyseries. The series was the first to introduce the step-by-step protocols approach that has become the standard in all biomedical protocol publishing. Each protocol is provided in readily-reproducible step-by-step fashion, opening with an introductory overview, a list of the materials and reagents needed to complete the experiment, and followed by a detailed procedure that is supported with a helpful notes section offering tips and tricks of the trade as well as troubleshooting advice. These hallmark features were introduced by series editor Dr. John Walker and constitute the key ingredient in each and every volume of theMethods in Molecular Biologyseries. Tested and trusted, comprehensive and reliable, all protocols from the series are indexed in PubMed.

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Influenza A viruses (IAV) have a very wide host range and are among the most clinically and economically important pathogens for humans, food animals, and companion animals. In animals, avian influenza and the neglected IAVs such as swine influenza and equine influenza likely have the greatest economic impact. In this edition, we are excited to add chapters on the very neglected IAVs in peridomestic mammals and sea mammals, which will help to complete the bigger picture of IAV ecology and epidemiology. Of course public health is always a concern with IAV. There is a critical intersection between public health and veterinary medicine with IAV (i.e., one health concept); it is not only anthropozoonotic (normally just called zoonotic) but also zooanthroponotic; humans can transmit IAV to animals.

Regardless of the public health implications, IAV is very important to poultry, swine, and equine health. Furthermore, when approaching work with animal influenza viruses it should be recognized that the needs and goals of animal agriculture and veterinary medicine are not always the same as those of public health. The roles of other mammals in AIV ecology have not been well defined, and several wild species such as peridomestic mammals and sea mammals are among those for which there is some data.

The aim of this book is to provide a compilation of the essential methods, such as virus detection, and to compile more advanced information that will guide the user in designing research, diagnostic, and surveillance programs. The reader will recognize that in some cases the same method is used for IAV in numerous species, for example samples collection and virus isolation. This may seem repetitive; however there are often minor, but crucial differences in achieving optimal performance with a procedure or assay depending on the species of origin. In contrast, there are some methods that are universal to IAV, e.g., hemagglutination assay or genome sequencing. Certainly, assays may be adapted to individual study needs with proper optimization or can simply be used as they are described. Today commercial kits are available for many procedures, which can save time with optimization, reagent preparation, and quality assurance if the resources are available to buy kits.

Most importantly, compiling these methods into a book would not have been possible without the contributions of the authors. The contributors are experts in their fields; therefore their direct knowledge of the subject matter is an invaluable resource. I gratefully acknowledge each of them for taking time from their busy schedules to contribute to this book. I would also like to thank the editorial team at Springer, especially John Walker, MIMB series editor, and Patrick Marton, Senior Editor, for all their time and help with completing this book.