Influenza Virus Lecture Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering the classification, structure, replication, pathogenesis, and treatment of the Influenza virus from the Influenza lecture.

Influenza A

A type of influenza virus found in many species that is responsible for seasonal epidemics and pandemics.

Influenza B

A type of influenza virus found in humans that causes seasonal epidemics.

Influenza C

A type of influenza virus that causing mild respiratory illness and is not a major medical concern.

Hemagglutinin (HA)

A viral surface protein involved in cell attachment and adherence; its cleavage by human proteases is required for the virus to invade cells.

Neuraminidase (NA)

An enzyme on the viral surface involved in the release of the virus from infected cells.

Nucleocapsid

The internal structure of the influenza virus consisting of RNA plus the NP (nucleoprotein) protein.

Antigenic Drift

Minor changes or point mutations in the virus RNA that lead to small changes in viral surface antigens.

Antigenic Shift

Major changes in viral surface antigens due to major mutations or genetic reassortment among different viruses, often leading to pandemics.

Mixing vessel

An animal, typically a pig, in which genetic exchange takes place between human and animal influenza viruses concurrently.

Amantadine and Rimantadine

Antiviral drugs used for Influenza A that work by preventing the virus from uncoating.

Zanamivir and Oseltamivir

Antiviral drugs, known by trade names Relenza and Tamiflu, that prevent NA from working in both Influenza A and B viruses.

Spanish Flu (1918)

A major pandemic caused by the $H1N1$ strain that resulted in more than 50 million deaths worldwide.

H5N1

Commonly known as Bird Flu; an avian influenza virus that does not usually infect humans but represents a pandemic risk through mutation.

H1N1 (2009)

An influenza strain officially declared as the first pandemic of the 21st century by the WHO on June 11, 2009.

Novel strain

A term used to describe a unique and completely new strain of virus never seen before.

Killed vaccine

A vaccine containing inactivated viruses, typically administered by injection into the upper arm.

Live attenuated vaccine

A type of vaccine made with weakened live viruses, administered via nasal spray.

Reye's syndrome

A neurologic syndrome listed as a potential complication of influenza virus infection.

Guillain-Barré syndrome

A neurologic complication associated with influenza virus infection.

Primary viral pneumonia

A severe respiratory complication that can result directly from the influenza virus's pathogenesis in the lungs.