Structure Of A Avian Influenza Virus

Avian influenza, also known as bird flu, is a highly contagious disease mostly prevalent in the poultry. Sometimes, it can affect other species like pigs, horses, seals, whales, minks and also humans. This fatal disease is cause by the Influenza virus A of the Orthomyxoviridae family.

Currently, 9 N subtypes and H 15 subtypes are identified though not all subtypes are pathogenic. When the H5 and H7 subtypes start infecting the poultry, they cause low pathogenic infection, which can become rapidly severe and result in a very high rate of mortality.

The virus consists of some genetic material which is surrounded by a protein as well as lipid shell. The infecting Influenza A virus consists of eight strands of RNA (ribonucleic acid) and also 10 proteins.

When this virus attacks the host, some of the proteins bind to the outside of cells of the victims in the lungs and airways and the virus is then drawn into the membrane. Following this, the shell fuses and moves through the membrane and emerges into the cytoplasm. The shell opens and releases the RNA which is used to make its own proteins. This RNA moves to the nucleus and there replication happens where the viral proteins are replicated.

Once the replication happens and the new virus is formed, it is again released into the airway and its finds another cell to infect. It may also be ejected out when the victim coughs or sneezes and the virus now finds another victim where it can replicate. This is the reason people are advised to keep away from people who cough or sneeze as they may easily be infected by the virus.

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Structure Of A Avian Influenza Virus