influenza

Attenuated influenza vaccine enhances bacterial colonization of mice

2 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By

Infection with influenza virus is known to increase susceptibility to bacterial infections of the respiratory tract. In a mouse model of influenza, increased bacterial colonization was also observed after administration of an infectious, attenuated influenza virus vaccine. Primary influenza virus infection increases colonization of the human upper and lower respiratory tract with bacteria, including Streptococcus …

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Cutting through mucus with the influenza virus neuraminidase

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Neuraminidase is one of three different viral proteins embedded in the lipid membrane of influenza virus (NA is blue in the illustration at left). This enzyme has a clear and proven role in virus release from cells. NA is also believed to be important during virus entry, by degrading the mucus barrier of the respiratory …

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TWiV 263: Game of clones

This Week in Virology / By

On episode #263 of the science show This Week in Virology, Ben tenOever joins the TWiV team to reveal the winner of his contest in which influenza viruses carrying different interferon-stimulated genes vie against one another in mice. You can find TWiV #263 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

Changing influenza virus neuraminidase into a receptor binding protein

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The hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) glycoproteins of the influenza virus particle serve distinct functions during infection. The HA binds sialic acid-containing cellular receptors and mediates fusion of the viral and cell membranes, while the NA removes sialic acids from glycoproteins. Apparently this division of labor is not absolute: influenza viruses have been identified with …

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