mutation

Changing influenza virus neuraminidase into a receptor binding protein

2 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By

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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A single amino acid change switches avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9 viruses to human receptors

11 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By

Two back-to-back papers were published last week that provide a detailed analysis of what it would take for avian influenza H5N1 and H7N9 viruses to switch to human receptors. Influenza virus initiates infection by attaching to the cell surface, a process mediated by binding of the viral hemagglutinin protein (HA) to sialic acid. This sugar …

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TWiV 232: Gophers go viral

This Week in Virology / By

On episode #232 of the science show This Week in Virology, Vincent meets up with Roberto, Reuben, Lou, and Leslie at the University of Minnesota to talk about their work on HIV-1, APOBEC proteins, measles virus, and teaching virology to undergraduates. You can find TWiV #232 at www.microbe.tv/twiv.

Vaccine-associated poliomyelitis in Pakistan

6 Comments / Basic virology, Information / By

An outbreak of ten cases of poliomyelitis caused by circulating vaccine-derivied poliovirus type 2 (cVDPV2) is ongoing in Pakistan, centered in the Kila Abdulla/Pishin area of Baluchistan. The same virus strain has spread to the neighboring Kandahar province in Afghanistan, where two paralytic cases have been reported. Vaccine-derived poliomyelitis is a well-known consequence of immunization …

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