Systems biology and systems genetics—novel innovative approaches to study host–pathogen interactions during influenza infection

Influenza represents a serious threat to public health with thousands of deaths each year. A deeper understanding of the host–pathogen interactions is urgently needed to evaluate individual and population risks for severe influenza disease and to identify new therapeutic targets. Here, we review recent progress in large scale omics technologies, systems genetics as well as new mathematical and computational developments that are now in place to apply a systems biology approach for a comprehensive description of the multidimensional host response to influenza infection. In addition, we describe how results from experimental animal models can be translated to humans, and we discuss some of the future challenges ahead