Orthomyxoviridae
(Redirected from Influenza virus)
Orthomyxoviridae is a family of RNA viruses that includes five genera: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, Influenzavirus C, Isavirus, and Thogotovirus. The viruses in this family are characterized by an enveloped virion that measures approximately 100 nanometers in diameter and a segmented genome.
Structure and Genome[edit | edit source]
The viruses in the Orthomyxoviridae family are enveloped, with a spherical or filamentous shape. The envelope of the virus is derived from the host cell membrane, and contains two major glycoproteins, hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). These proteins play a crucial role in the virus's ability to infect host cells.
The genome of Orthomyxoviridae viruses is made up of segmented, negative-sense, single-stranded RNA. This segmented nature of the genome allows for the exchange of gene segments, a process known as genetic reassortment. This is a major factor in the emergence of new strains of influenza viruses.
Replication[edit | edit source]
Orthomyxoviridae viruses replicate in the nucleus of the host cell, a unique feature among RNA viruses. The replication process involves the transcription of the viral RNA into complementary RNA (cRNA), which is then used as a template for the production of viral RNA.
Pathogenesis and Immunity[edit | edit source]
Viruses in the Orthomyxoviridae family are responsible for a wide range of diseases in humans and animals. The most well-known of these is influenza, caused by Influenzavirus A and B. Influenza is a highly contagious respiratory illness that can cause severe illness and death, particularly in high-risk populations.
Immunity to Orthomyxoviridae viruses is primarily mediated by the immune system's response to the H and N glycoproteins on the surface of the virus. However, the high rate of mutation in these proteins, a process known as antigenic drift, allows the virus to evade the immune response, leading to recurrent epidemics.
See Also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD