Influenza Virus Case Study

According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), influenza viruses are divided into three types, designated as A, B, and C. Influenza type C usually only causes either very mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Types A and B, however, are responsible for epidemics of respiratory illnesses that can result in hospitalization, or even death. Influenza is constantly changing over time by mutations. This continual change allows the virus to evade the antibodies that were meant to kill it. A host infected with influenza virus develops antibodies against that virus; as the virus changes, the "first" antibody no longer recognizes the "newer" virus and infection can occur because the host does not recognize the new flu virus as a problem until the infection is well under way. The first antibody developed may, in some instances, provide partial protection against infection with a new influenza virus. According to Medicine Net.com, In 2009, almost all individuals had no antibodies that could recognize the novel H1N1 virus immediately. It quickly spread throughout the world so fast that the WHO declared this new flu strain (termed novel H1N1 influenza A swine flu). There are currently four main strains of influenza circulating worldwide. Three of the viruses are type A, and one is type B. Type A viruses are divided into subtypes based on the differences in two viral proteins called hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). The three subtypes of influenza A are A(H1N1), A(H3N2), and A(H5N1). The reason for several strands of type A are because of the two kinds of change influenza A

They view proteins created by infected cells, and are sent to other cells to start them making protective substances. Influenza, commonly known as the flu, is a very contagious disease caused by a virus infecting many part of our bodies including the reparatory tract. The influenza virus depending on the sternness usually includes: fever, cough, sore throat, headache, stuffy and running nose, muscle soreness and fatigue. It also can include vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea.

Every year, millions of people start talking about the influenza virus and getting their vaccines as the flu season approaches, which starts around the October-November period and reaches its peak between December and March. Therefore, public health officials around the world- and in the U.S in particular- are constantly challenged by properly preparing for the annual influenza dilemma, given that this viruses, and other respiratory viruses, are a serious health threat to the U.S population and the world as a whole. Furthermore, what makes the influenza virus even more challenging to control is that it can mutate rapidly and reassort to form new strains, having the ability to reside in multiple animal hosts. In fact, many scientists and researchers have been doing in-depth intensive research so as to understand the mechanism behind this unique characteristic of the virus, try to find new ways to control it, and explore different areas of protection and vaccination.

Influenza viruses need to infect host cells in order to replicate. Most flu viruses are destroyed by the innate immune mechanisms involving components such as macrophages, interferons and natural killer cells, however some manage to avoid being detected by these early defence mechanisms and so are eliminated by the adaptive immune response.

Ct returned from JPS with documentation stating to be diagnosed with Type B Influenza. Ct was removed form his Bunk - 112/63 per CD and moved upstairs to a single room - 224. Ct was issued new linen, towels, washcloths, water bottles, Clorox wipes, disinfectant, a roll of toilet paper, and was instructed to stay in his room until further instructions. Due to Ct's Flu diagnosis, Ct will have to have his meal(s) delivered to his room by the scheduled FMs.

Hemagglutinin is very important for the virus to bind to animal cells, for example, a human red blood cell. This causes agglutination which is the clumping of the red blood cells. Tests based on this simple clumping of the red blood cells is useful to determine if one has influenza. The neuraminidase is used to cut off the viruses hemagglutinin receptors when new viruses are produced and start budding off. It also degrades the mucosal surfaces of the lungs and the throat to prevent being ejected. This hampers the ability of the antibodies of getting into the lungs.

There are there types of influenza A and C or the most severe types and B which is the most common, Luckily not the to severe. The virus works by first attaching to the outside of a host cell. It injects its RNA into the cell. Unfortunately our cells treat the RNA like they should. It translates the viral genes using the cell’s ribosomes and enzymes. Now the virus can take the cell over and use it to reproduce more viruses. Sooner or later it releases the new nauseating viruses and they search for another cell to raid.

Describe two innate (nonspecific) immune responses that might prevent an influenza virus from causing any noticeable infection, even if the virus enters your respiratory passages.

Someone may sneeze or cough and not cover their mouths and another person may come along and inhale those water droplets left behind by the infected person, which will cause them to become infected. Another common route of transmission is when an infected person sneezes or coughs into their hand and touches a surface. A healthy person may then come along and touch the surface then their face, nose, mouth or eyes and then become infected with the influenza. The H1N1’s route of entry and exit is through the mouth and nose. The primary target for this H1N1 virus is the upper respiratory tract in humans. This virus spreads even more quickly among crowded places as well as being able to survive longer outside of the body in cold and dry environments. This specific influenza virus reproduces by the lytic cycle. Once the H1N1 virus has entered the body, it supplements its own DNA/RNA into the body’s cells. This instructs the cell to stop its normal functioning for the body and begin manufacturing the H1N1 virus. This non-living organism “hijacks” our bodies to supply the raw materials it needs to replicate and infect our bodies. Once the infected body cell makes enough viruses, it splits open or lyses resulting in the death of that cell and those new virus particles repeat the cycle, cell after cell until our body begins to fight back which is when we begin to feel the symptoms of the

7 Influenza transmit through respiratory droplet from an infect individual. When we come into contact with infections, our symptoms can be caused by two sources: the particular pathogen we are victim to and our immune response against the pathogen. The specific pathogens that enter our bodies can directly cause damage to our tissues and organs; certain pathogens can even affect various parts of our body, causing systemic infections. Systemic infections are caused by our own immune response, designed to destroy the pathogen, such as cytotoxic T-cells action cause Cell death in respiratory track. Our immune system reacts to the presence of the pathogen, and inflammatory response that causes collateral damage to our own tissues while

There are two important proteins used in the determination of the type of influenza; haemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). There are 18 known variations of the haemagglutinin protein and 11 of the neuraminidase protein, giving hundreds of possible variations in the subtypes of the virus . These subtypes are further divided into different strains that have a divergent molecular makeup, giving rise to viruses that differ in virulence, ease of transmission and severity of symptoms. Not all strains of influenza can cause disease in humans; influenza D subtypes cannot infect humans and influenza C infections are rare and usually very minor. Influenza A and B are the subtypes that are responsible for the common infections and the epidemics and pandemics that occur periodically, with influenza A causing the majority of these infections. The virus is transmitted through the inhalation of droplets which are expelled when an infected person coughs or sneezes, through contact with a contaminated surface and through the exchange of saliva . The infected person becomes infectious to others around 12 hours after first contact with the virus and remains contagious for around the next five days; this can vary as the immunocompromised can take longer to subdue the virus and children tend to be more infectious than adults . The virus incubates in the respiratory tract by invading cells through the cleavage of the viral protein haemagglutinin by human proteases . The pathogenicity of a certain strain is determined by the spread of proteases in the respiratory tract that can cleave the proteins of the virus; a strain is typically milder if the proteases that reside in the lungs and throat are the only ones capable of cleaving the virus, causing an upper respiratory tract (URT)

potential pathogens and their particular tissue location. Rapid influenza antigen testing is completed by swabbing the nose, mouth or throat obtaining secretions for staining with fluorescent antibodies to identify the virus. This usually takes 1 to 3 hours for the determination of results whether a bacteria is positive or negative, so that the correct antibiotics can be prescribed. First a thin smear of bacteria on a clean slide that is covered with crystal violet stain for 1 minute. A wash is completed and iodine solution is added to the smear to enhance staining for 1 minute. Being rinsed again in water and then 95% ethanol for one minute. Washing the violet stain off will differentiate between the two types of bacteria. If the bacteria

Every year in America we face an influenza epidemic. Measures must be taken to prepare communities and vulnerable members of our population through vaccinating, hand washing and other forms of disinfection to help stop the virus from gaining a foothold. The purpose of this paper is to look into the history and current processes pertaining to the virus, while constructing new practices for what the future of influenza in America may look like.

According to Healthy People 2020 a goal of theirs is to “increase immunization rates and reduce preventable infections.” The influenza virus is one of these preventable infections, which can cause serious harm to patients. The influenza virus is known as the “flu.” Everyone in his or her life has had some experience with the flu, whether that is himself or herself or a family member. What if there was a way to ensure people from contracting a strain of the influenza virus? Well, thanks to technology and medical research there is.

With a huge number of victims, 80 to 100 million, since 1918, the influenza is considered as one of the most pandemic diseases ever. There are three types of influenza virus: influenza virus A, influenza virus B, and influenza virus c. These are a subtypes of the virus family orthomyx-oviride. The types B and C do not cause pandemic diseases while type A does. The type A classified into three main subtype H1.N1, H1.N2, and H3.N2. The (H.N) refers to the two kinds of proteins on the surface of the virus (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase). The difference in numbers is due to the difference in protein variability. A H1.N1 virus which is widely known as Spanish flu is the only type that can transmit from human to human. The H5.N1, or “bird flu”