Influenza Virus Infection |
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/images.htm
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Sialic Acid and the Influenza Virus
- Sialic acid is a sugar found on the surface of human cells that plays a vital role in the influenza virus infection cycle
- Sialic acid is added to proteins at the cell surface by a process called sialylation
- Sialylation is a type of glycosylation, which is the addition of a carbohydrate unit or chain to a specific location on a protein
- When high school students first learn about the infection cycle of viruses, including the influenza virus, the role of sialic acid is often overlooked
- Without the presence of this sugar on the surface of human cells, the influenza virus would be unable to reproduce and spread within its human host
- The following 3 videos review the influenza virus infection cycle, along with the role of sialic acid and specific viral proteins in the process
- Viruses are not simply genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat
- Symptoms, flu drugs and flu vaccines are also examined
When Flu Viruses Attack! |
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Influenza Virus Infection
- How many deaths occurred in the 1918 flu pandemic?
- What 2 groups of people can the flu be very deadly for?
- What are 2 organisms other than humans that the flu can infect?
- When did scientists start figuring out that the very early stages of viral infection involve sugars?
- What do the letters in the swine flu strain H1N1 stand for?
- Create a flow chart showing the steps in the lifecycle of an influenza virus.
- Name 2 flu drugs that are neuraminidase inhibitors. How are they able to act as inhibitors?
Flu Vaccine Risks and Benefits
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