Flu Virus Anatomy

The medical term is influenza and the general common term is the flu. It refers to the acute and contagious viral infections of the upper respiratory tract and is spread by droplets from sneezing, coughing or spitting.

A virus can vary in size and shape but all viruses consist of two basic components ;

– the genome, a core of nucleic acid occurring in double or single strand form and may be unbroken or found in segments.

– capsid, a surrounding coat of protein protecting the genome.

The genome contains either DNA or RNA but not both. The capsid can be found to shape the various viruses called capsomeres. The number of these capsomeres is the characteristic for a particular virus.

– Orthomyxovirus, a sub-group of myxoviruses that includes the viruses of human and animal influenza

– Myxovirus, any of the RNA viruses characteristically causing agglutination of chicken erythorocytes.

Three main types of the virus have been recognized as Type A, B or C. Types B and C influenza viruses are seen in children and young adults. Most of the older adults carry antibodies against these viruses because of previous exposure.

Two subtypes of the Type A influenza virus have been found to contain two common antigens.

– Antigen, a protein that the body will recognize as foreign and activate a immune response.

The influenza virus consists of eight, single-stranded segments of RNA, wound helically and surrounded with a nucleocapsid aka as an ‘envelope’. This envelope also contains ‘spikes’

One spike contains a enzyme called hemagglutinin (H) that assists the attachment of the virus to host cells. The second type of spike contains another enzyme called neuraminidase (N) that assists the entry of the virus into host cells for replication and exits once replication is complete. Both these enzymes are called antigens.

The antigens have been found to break further down into three subtypes for hemagglutinin, H1, H2, H3 and two sub types for neuraminidase (N) as N1 and N2 and are responsible for the widespread epidemics of influenza.

The flu has a brief incubation period and symptoms will appear almost immediately upon entry into the respiratory tract. These symptoms will include fever, chills, headache, sore throat, cough, upset stomach and body aches.

The study of the virus is called virology and to date there is no cure for the influenza virus due to the inability to break through the virus’ ‘envelope’. Antibiotics are only given if complications arise from secondary bacterial infections such as pneumonia or bronchitis. All infectious microbes are opportunistic.

High fluid intake, bed rest and aspirin or tylenol are recommended to relieve the general aches and discomfort. Flu vaccines are available but doesn’t always provide full immunity against all forms of the influenza virus but should be noted that symptoms are not as severe.

Two complications have been found to occur either upon recovery from the flu or upon receiving the flu vaccine that may occur. One is called Guillain-Barre syndrome and the second is called Reyes syndrome and advises that aspirin not be given to children. Always consult with your Doctor for advice.

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