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About viruses and viral disease

Structure of influenza virus

30 April 2009

influenza-virion3In this week’s discussion of swine flu A/Mexico/09 (H1N1), we have considered many aspects of influenza virus biology that might not be familiar to some readers of virology blog. I thought it might be useful to explain how the virus multiplies, how it infects us, and how we combat infection. Today we’ll start with the basic structure of influenza virus, illustrated above.

The influenza virion (as the infectious particle is called) is roughly spherical. It is an enveloped virus – that is, the outer layer is a lipid membrane which is taken from the host cell in which the virus multiplies. Inserted into the lipid membrane are ‘spikes’, which are proteins – actually glycoproteins, because they consist of protein linked to sugars – known as HA (hemagglutinin) and NA (neuraminidase). These are the proteins that determine the subtype of influenza virus (A/H1N1, for example). We’ll discuss later how the HA and NA are given subtype numbers. The HA and NA are important in the immune response against the virus; antibodies (proteins made by us to combat infection) against these spikes may protect against infection. The NA protein is the target of the antiviral drugs Relenza and Tamiflu. Also embedded in the lipid membrane is the M2 protein, which is the target of the antiviral adamantanes – amantadine and rimantadine.

Beneath the lipid membrane is a viral protein called M1, or matrix protein. This protein, which forms a shell, gives strength and rigidity to the lipid envelope. Within the interior of the virion are the viral RNAs – 8 of them for influenza A viruses. These are the genetic material of the virus; they code for one or two proteins. Each RNA segment, as they are called, consists of RNA joined with several proteins shown in the diagram: B1, PB2, PA, NP. These RNA segments are the genes of influenza virus. The interior of the virion also contains another protein called NEP.

This week, when we discussed the nucleotide sequence of swine influenza RNAs, we were referring to these RNA molecules. Tomorrow I’ll show you how each RNA codes for protein. This way it will be easier to understand the meaning of the swine flu virus sequences that were released this week.

Let me know if this type of explanation is useful, and if you would like me to continue.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Hypergurl_321 says

    8 November 2010 at 11:33 pm

    how many segments of genetic material do they have?

  2. Bloop says

    1 December 2010 at 5:50 am

    Thank you!!!!!!

  3. Carlos Enriquez says

    6 December 2010 at 7:06 pm

    Influenza virus types are determined by the nucleoprotein rather than the H or N.

    Bull World Health Organ. 1971; 45(1): 119–124.

  4. Rajan says

    4 January 2011 at 3:48 am

    satisfied…

  5. Hamish says

    6 January 2011 at 12:34 pm

    i bought a blood zapper. and read dr becks work for nasa. take vitaminc tablets 1000mg before using a blood zapper. electroporation occurs magnifying the vit c to like 60,ooomg like some armies combi pens. never fear a virus again.

  6. Joeya40 says

    19 January 2011 at 10:24 pm

    I’m pleased with your explanation. But what is NEP function?

  7. profvrr says

    20 January 2011 at 6:39 pm

    NEP, or nuclear export protein, is involved in the export of the viral
    RNA-protein complex from the nucleus, where the viral RNA is
    replicated, to the cytoplasm.

  8. Daniel Condurachi says

    31 January 2011 at 2:14 pm

    you say this
    “because they consist of protein linked to sugars – known as HA (hemagglutinin) and NA (neuraminidase). These are the proteins that determine the type of influenza virus (A, B, or C) and”
    but HA and NA do not determine the type of influenza virus but only the subtype. NP and M determine the type of influenza virus A, B or C

  9. profvrr says

    2 February 2011 at 2:31 pm

    Influenza types were originally (years ago) defined by
    cross-reactivity, using antisera, against the core proteins, M1 and
    NP. By sequence comparison of HA and NA it would be possible today to
    determine whether an influenza virus is type A or B or C. I’ve made a
    few corrections to the post to reflect this information.

  10. Sujatha says

    18 February 2011 at 9:58 am

    WHAT ARE THE ANTIGENIC SITES PRESENT IN H1N1?

  11. profvrr says

    18 February 2011 at 4:20 pm

    See https://www.virology.ws/2010/02/11/protection-against-2009-influenza-h1n1-by-immunization-with-1918-like-and-classical-swine-viruses/
    and the paper discussed in the post for the antigenic sites.

  12. John_johnk says

    2 May 2011 at 4:06 am

    You need gramar lessons.

  13. Hyun says

    6 May 2011 at 1:55 am

    Thank you for useful information!
    I think you should correct ‘diagram: B1, PB2 …’–> to ‘diagram: PB1, PB2’ in the following sentence .
    “Each RNA segment, as they are called, consists of RNA joined with several proteins shown in the diagram: B1, PB2, PA, NP”

  14. Dalila Lepirica says

    14 June 2011 at 2:39 pm

    Very good. =0)

  15. Microbioogy student says

    9 July 2011 at 7:15 am

    If you read it, he says that the HA NA determine the subtype

  16. Gasp says

    31 August 2011 at 1:35 am

    improve your sentences’ and grammer, and get your sentences stright and to the point, and the structure of the cell is wrong, firstly the reason scientists couldn’ t find an cure so fast was because once the cell came into contact with anti-bodies the cell use them to it’s adventage -gasp

  17. TAJMA says

    23 September 2011 at 10:36 am

    can you breakdown the biology of influenza? please

  18. Feastingwithbears says

    27 September 2011 at 6:37 am

    You are rather uninformative and not helpful. The rest of you giving scientific answers and comments are about as helpful as a toddler in the trenches, that is to say I would use you as a human shield (I do not condone family violence however, this is merely an example of my feelings towards you). The majority of people viewing this article want a basic run through on the life processes of the virus, not a lecture on the structure of viruses in our world. I am doing a school project and was thoroughly disappointed with the amount of confusing (to some) scientific comments, the only productive comment was “poopy” sums up this article pretty well I think.

    Kind Regards, your life advisor.

  19. Bi 11 girl says

    3 November 2011 at 9:42 pm

    there should be better deffentions for some of the more scientific words here, explaining how they work in the body

  20. RachelDawn says

    5 January 2012 at 8:52 pm

    Really helpful, it’s so hard to find an explanation of this at the right level for what I need!

  21. Ggllt says

    8 January 2012 at 10:58 pm

    tits

  22. Eager learner says

    9 January 2012 at 5:47 pm

    All those who are posting complaints about either the grammatical quality of this text or the scientific detail, go somewhere else if it is too advanced for you.  This is written by a professor who knows lots about this subject.  You are wasting his time.  Thank you Vincent Racaniello this article is very helpful.

  23. Jason says

    8 February 2012 at 7:15 am

    To all those haters, if you don’t like it, you don’t need to start whining. This article is helpful and if you didn’t like it, go sook in a corner.

  24. Sujaymhatre8 says

    17 February 2012 at 12:31 pm

    ya u shall continue 

  25. Carel says

    27 February 2012 at 8:15 am

    thank u helped alot

  26. Sachit1_k says

    11 March 2012 at 9:41 am

    This article is very useful and provides information in a very simple & understandable manner. Those who criticized it are lame people.

  27. Zhen110194 says

    11 March 2012 at 11:06 am

    thank you very much for your information! can i know more about it?

  28. Smileyfacee says

    12 March 2012 at 10:32 am

    i understood it !  very helpful , thanks(:

  29. Paige says

    16 April 2012 at 3:18 pm

    Is the lipid bilayer the same as a lipid envelope?

  30. Shams Faranak59 says

    18 April 2012 at 3:52 am

    your explain is very useful thank you and please continue

  31. Mohafara2009 says

    24 April 2012 at 4:20 pm

    HELLO Professor
    thanks for your guidance
    i have a question please.do you have a powerpoint file about H1N1?
    i think if you make a ppt and upload it,it will be better

  32. Crawford says

    17 June 2012 at 11:36 am

    Enjoyed both the graphic and the biochemical outline. Would also be fun to see an SEM produced picture of the virus. How has digital imaging changed things?

  33. Lhbaobab33 says

    27 June 2012 at 12:22 am

    I really like how you made this simple and clear.  I would enjoy reading more similar posts.  Thanks very much.

  34. johan says

    13 July 2012 at 11:00 am

    A quite naive question that you will be able to answer I hope.

    Historically, A and B viruses were distinguished through assays based on antigenicity. Same thing for the different subtypes of Influenza A. Among one subtype of A, it is also antigenicity that permits to distinguish between different drifted strains.
    Phylogenetic trees, based on amino acid sequence of HA, permit also to distinguish the different strains, subtypes, A/B viruses.
    However, is there a threshold that permits to determine the level of difference?
    Do we have to admit that former researchers were quite lucky to use antibodies permitting first to distinguish between H1 and H3 for example and not antibodies discriminating drifted strains?
    Why are B viruses divided into Yamagata and Victoria and not HxNx and HyNy ? How can we say that there is only one HA and one NA type for B, there are not enough antigenic differences among glycoproteins from V and Y strains?
    Thanks in advance to clarify these points !

  35. Fahizabisrat says

    29 July 2012 at 1:28 pm

    I am a student of biochemistry and molecular biology.I have fallen in a trouble to understand the structure of influenza virus..nd it really helped  me to know about the concept:)Thank u sir.

  36. spain n barca footy fan says

    27 October 2012 at 11:24 am

    thanks for the useful information. you’ve helped me alot in my science project. 🙂

  37. Jenny says

    22 December 2012 at 10:43 am

    Good day Professor,
    my name is Jenny and i have
    question: What is you advice or statement to
    prevent pandemics such as swine flu to
    spread through public transport?

    Greetings
    Jenny

  38. MATRIX says

    4 February 2013 at 1:24 pm

    this is good

  39. Dayamoy says

    7 February 2013 at 2:40 pm

    The structure of Influenza virus represented in a good manner. Can you provide the fig. Thanks
    D Mondal, dayamoy21@gmail.com

  40. celine says

    13 November 2013 at 4:32 pm

    Thank you this was very useful to me

  41. Sakura Khan says

    22 November 2013 at 10:57 am

    I was really upset for structure of influenza envelop but when I read this I am really satisfied

  42. adnankhan says

    12 December 2013 at 5:01 am

    you can,t tell virus are not cellular bcz virues are living and non living

  43. adnankhan says

    12 December 2013 at 5:02 am

    VIRUS CAN BE SUB_CELLULAR

  44. Niko says

    12 December 2013 at 7:03 pm

    i’d just really like to say how much i appreciate the whole “less is more” style of writing i see here. it really makes things concise and clear while still giving very detailed information. thanks a ton.

  45. Paul Delle says

    11 February 2014 at 11:11 am

    This is extremely useful, i often get lost in the text. Thank you.

  46. Jacob Markey says

    13 March 2014 at 2:32 pm

    ” will loose there membrane” — ‘lose’, ‘their’

  47. Chris Coakley says

    27 April 2014 at 11:52 pm

    The “alive or dead” debate isn’t conclusive in either direction, but it has has its own RNA, a membrane, and behavior. So for all intents and purposes, it’s alive, and please, learn to spell if you’re going to comment on a scientific forum…

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by Vincent Racaniello

Earth’s virology Professor
Questions? virology@virology.ws

With David Tuller and
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