Influenza B virus is a significant pathogen responsible for seasonal flu epidemics, primarily affecting humans. Unlike Influenza A, which has multiple subtypes and can infect various species, Influenza B is restricted to humans and seals. The Influenza B virus is divided into two lineages: B/Victoria and B/Yamagata. The strain B/Jilin/20/2003 belongs to the B/Victoria lineage and was first isolated in Jilin, China, in 2003 .
The Influenza B virus has a segmented, single-stranded RNA genome, which allows for genetic reassortment. This reassortment can lead to the emergence of new strains with different antigenic properties. The B/Jilin/20/2003 strain has been extensively studied for its genetic makeup, particularly the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) proteins, which are crucial for the virus’s ability to infect host cells and for the immune response .
Recombinant technology has been employed to study and manipulate the B/Jilin/20/2003 strain. This involves creating recombinant viruses by inserting specific genes from the B/Jilin/20/2003 strain into a plasmid vector, which is then used to infect host cells. This technology allows researchers to study the function of individual viral proteins and to develop vaccines and antiviral drugs .
The recombinant B/Jilin/20/2003 virus has been used in various research applications, including: