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Influenza virus


All of the viruses can be further subdivided depending on the organization viral surface proteins (angelfire, 9/10/02).
             Each part of the viral RNA codes for a protein. RNA segments 1, 2, 3 code for polymerase-B2, B1 and A respectively (Schaechter, et al, 1999). These are involved in the synthesis of RNA and are core proteins in the virus. RNA segment 4 codes for hemagglutinin on the cell surface (Schaechter, et al, 1999). Segment 5 is for nucleoprotein which is involved in RNA synthesis and is a core receptor. RNA segment 6 is for neuraminidase which is for the release of the virus from the cell envelop, while segment 7 produces proteins matrix-1 and 2 which scaffolds the protein and is found in the transmembrane ion channel. Finally segment 8 makes non-structural-1 and proteins, which regulate RNA splicing (Schaechter, et al, 1999). .
             The total genome of the influenza viruses varies to between 12000-15000 nucleotides (angelfire, 9/10/02). There are identical terminal repeats at both the 3" and 5" ends of 12-13 nucleotides. .
             The morphology of the virus particles is rather simple. They contain nine different structural proteins that are in the form of nucleoproteins (angelfire, 9/10/02). Each of these are in helical shape and are approximately 9nm in diameter (angelfire, 9/10/02). The three large proteins (polymerase-B2, B1 and A) are all bound to viral ribonucleoprotein. As mentioned before they are enveloped by lipid from the cell, however forms with filamentous or pleomorphic envelops have been discovered (Duke, 9/10/02). The virus itself can be either spherical or filamentous from 50-120nm in diameter, or 20nm in diameter and 200-300nm in length (angelfire, 9/10/02). The spikes of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase are dispersed evenly over the surface (the ratio of hemagglutinin to neuraminidase is 4-5:1) and the spikes project approximately 10-14nm from the surface (angelfire, 9/10/02).


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