Viruses Microbes

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

The Type of Influenza Viruses

Influenza Viruses

Influenza virus is very contagious, spreading easily from person to person, primarily when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Influenza virus is the cause of influenza (flu). Influenza virus is round, but can also be elongated or irregularly shaped. In the influenza virus RNA segments there are eight single-stranded (ribonucleic acid) - which contains the genetic instructions for making new copies of the virus. The most striking feature of the influenza virus is projected from the surface layer, the first is protein hemagglutinin (HA), which allows the virus (shaped) to the cell and initiate infection, the other is protein called as neuraminidase (NA), which allows the newly formed virus to exit from the host cell.

Influenza Virus Types

Influenza viruses are classified as type A, B, or C based on their protein composition. Type A viruses are found in many types of animals such as ducks, chickens, pigs, whales, including humans. Type B circulated widely in humans. Type C has been found in humans, pigs, and dogs are causing a mild respiratory tract infections, but does not trigger an epidemic.

Type A influenza is the most frightening, it is believed to be responsible for the global outbreak in 1918, 1957 and 1968.Influenza type A viruses are further divided into two groups based on surface proteins, HA and NA. Scientists have characterized 16 HA subtypes and 9 NA subtypes of influenza virus. Virus type A subtype of influenza classified by the naming system that includes a place of tension was invented, laboratory identification number, year of discovery, type of HA and NA own by.

In nature, influenza viruses found in wild waterfowl such as ducks and shore birds. Bird flu has survived for millions of years in and usually does not hurt them. However, influenza vaccine is often mutated can easily jump the species barrier from wild birds to domesticated ducks and then to chicken. Pigs can be infected with influenza-like as the form of influenza that infects humans.

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