Co-existence and co-infection of influenza A viruses and coronaviruses: Public health challenges

• Published in: Innovation (New York, NY) Vol. 3; no. 5; p. 100306
• Main Authors: Yang, Jing, Gong, Yuhuan, Zhang, Chunge, Sun, Ju, Wong, Gary, Shi, Weifeng, Liu, Wenjun, Gao, George F., Bi, Yuhai
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 13.09.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: co-existence; co-infection; coronavirus; influenza A virus; public health challenges; Review; SARS-CoV-2; co-existence; public health challenges; coronavirus; SARS-CoV-2; co-infection; influenza A virus
• ISSN: 2666-6758; 2666-6758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.xinn.2022.100306

Since the 20th century, humans have lived through five pandemics caused by influenza A viruses (IAVs) (H1N1/1918, H2N2/1957, H3N2/1968, and H1N1/2009) and the coronavirus (CoV) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. IAVs and CoVs both have broad host ranges and share multiple hosts. Virus co-circulation and even co-infections facilitate genetic reassortment among IAVs and recombination among CoVs, further altering virus evolution dynamics and generating novel variants with increased cross-species transmission risk. Moreover, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 may maintain long-term circulation in humans as seasonal IAVs. Co-existence and co-infection of both viruses in humans could alter disease transmission patterns and aggravate disease burden. Herein, we demonstrate how virus-host ecology correlates with the co-existence and co-infection of IAVs and/or CoVs, further affecting virus evolution and disease dynamics and burden, calling for active virus surveillance and countermeasures for future public health challenges. [Display omitted] •Influenza A viruses (IAVs) and coronaviruses (CoVs) have broad host ranges and share multiple hosts•Co-existence and co-infection of IAVs and/or CoVs are inevitable based on virus-host ecology•Co-circulation and co-infection could alter virus evolution and drive novel variant emergence•Co-circulation and co-infection could affect disease transmission and burden in humans•Active surveillance and countermeasures are needed for the public health challenges