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Facts about Influenza Viruses. There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, C A is most serious and it can genetically change rapidly and is the one that caused the pandemics (worldwide spread) The virus’s genetic material is single stranded RNA
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Facts about Influenza Viruses • There are three types of influenza viruses: A, B, C • A is most serious and it can genetically change rapidly and is the one that caused the pandemics (worldwide spread) • The virus’s genetic material is single stranded RNA • The viral envelope has proteins (antigens) on it which can be used to identify each virus and put them into groups: hemagglutinin and neuraminidase • Influenza viruses are named like this: Type, place of initial isolation, strain designation and year of isolation. Example: A/HongKong/H1N3/68. H and N stand for the surface proteins • There are medicines to treat flu: Tamiflu and Relenza • A new vaccine must be made for each new flu, to make a new vaccine for millions of people takes 3-6 months
Examples of some viral diseases: Introduction – Structure – Replication – Virology – Medicine - Review
Human flu, bird flu, pig flu-what’s up?? • Humans, birds and pigs all get their own versions of the flu • These flu viruses are usually mild and we have built up IMMUNITY or resistance to our own kind of flu • Usually the people types (strains) don’t make pigs or birds very sick and visa versa • VERY RARELY mutations in a virus occurs and these genetic changes allow a virus to ‘jump’ species from say pigs to people or birds to people VIOLA SWINE AND AVIAN FLU outbreaks in people • The jumping pig or bird virus will cause more serious flu in people because people have not had a chance to become resistant to it SO WE GET THE NEWSPAPER HEADLINES • The most serious flu is AVIAN FLU but it does not transfer readily to people
Replication Phases • I, II, III - Viruses enter cell • Attachment to cell membrane • Penetration inside cell • Losing virus protein coat Phase I V - Release • Assembly of virus DNA and protein coat into whole new viruses • Leaving the cell • IV - Replication • Tricks cell into making more viral DNA • Tricks cell into making viral protein coat Phase II Phase III Phase V Phase IV http://www.cat.cc.md.us/courses/bio141/lecguide/unit2/viruses/adlyt.html Introduction – Structure – Replication – Virology – Medicine - Review