The emergence of the drug-resistant Influenza A strains including the antiviral resistant 2009 pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) highlighted this urgent need to develop new antiviral strategies for protecting against infection of Influenza virus. Type I interferon including interferon alpha and beta (IFN-α/β) produced by host cells in response to the presence of pathogens, plays a critical role in viral pathogen clearance during infection. In this study we determined the effect of Alferon N Injection® (a natural interferon alpha product derived from human leukocytes, IFN-α-n3) on the Influenza A virus including pH1N1 virus isolated from pigs, Avian H9N2 and Swine H3N2 viruses in human alveolar epithelial A549 cells. The results showed that IFN-α-n3 is able to inhibit replication of these three Influenza A viruses in human alveolar epithelial cells, indicating that IFN-α-n3 may be useful in treating Influenza clinically.

Although the 2009 flu pandemic did not cause the high mortality rates as predicated in June, 2009 when the world health organization (WHO) declared the first pandemic in 41 years, the outbreak reminded us that ,nfluenza remains a major infectious disease and public health challenge. Нis outbreak reinforced the problems of vaccine production capacity and supply in response to a pandemic. For example, no pandemic H1N1 vaccine was available in most developing countries even more than 8 months aіer the WHO declared the pandemic [1]. Although the current seasonal ,nfluenza and pandemic H1N1 vaccines have proven to be eوٴective in protecting against infection, the average time frame to manufacture an ,nfluenza vaccine is at least 6 months, which is not suٹcient to meet the demands of a pandemic in a timely manner. Moreover, safety concerns still exist for people with egg allergies because the viruses for ,nfluenza vaccines are commonly derived from chicken egg-based cultures. Besides vaccination, antiviral treatment is an important strategy in helping to control and prevent an ,nfluenza pandemic. Two types of antivirals, M2 ion channel inhibitors (Amantadine and Rimantadine) and neuraminidase inhibitors (Oseltamivir and Zanamivir), are commercially available in the United States and have been shown to reduce the severity and durations of fluillness symptoms. Both antiviral treatments have side eوٴects including: lightheadedness, anxiety, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite and trouble breathing. It is important to note that the 2009 pandemic H1N1 virus (pH1N1) is resistant to M2 inhibitors and an NA-inhibitor resistant pH1N1 strain has also emerged in patients