Discovery of Influenza Virus

• First isolated from a pig

in 1931 (swine flu)
• Isolated from human in
1933
 Causative Agent of Influenza

• Caused by Myxovirus which comprises

Orthomyxovirus and Paramyxovirus.
• Influenza virus is an Orthomyxovirus.
• Segmented genome (8 segments), Single-
stranded RNA
• Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase on
surface of virion.
 ORTHOMYXOVIRUSES
HA - hemagglutinin
NA - neuraminidase

helical nucleocapsid

lipid bilayer membrane

polymerase complex

M1 protein

type A, B, C : NP, M1 protein

sub-types: HA or NA protein
 Causative Agent of Influenza

• Types of influenzavirus
– influenza virus A (Pandemic)
– influenza virus B (Major outbreak)
– influenza virus C (Mild symptoms)
– Many species of animals have their own
influenza A virus.
 Antigenic Variation

• There are two types of changes:

1) antigenic shift
2) antigenic drift.
• Antigenic shift: Major changes in
hemagglutinin and neuraminidase resulting
from reassortment of gene segments
involving two different influenza viruses.
 Antigenic Variation

• Antigenic Drift: Minor changes in

hemagglutinin and neuraminidase of
influenza virus. This results from mutation in
the RNA segments.
Reassortment of Influenza Viruses

Avian Human
virus virus
Avian
Reservoir

Other
mammals?
New
Swine
Reassorted
virus
Where do “new” HA and NA come from?
 Where do “new” HA and NA come from
- can ‘new’ bird flu directly infect humans?

Bird flu H5N1?

 Mode of Transmission In Human

• The virus is spread

from person- to-
person through
respiratory droplets
or close contact.
• Incubation period 1-3
days
Clinical Manifestations
• Influenza is an acute
respiratory illness
characterized by fever,
headache, myalgia,
coryza, sore throat and
cough.
• Cough is frequently
severe and protracted.
 Reye’s syndrome
• Risk factors
– Young children
– certain viral infections (influenza, chicken
pox)
– aspirin
• liver degeneration
• encephalopathy
Laboratory Diagnosis

• Diagnosis is usually
made by virus isolation,
identification of specific
antigens or antibody
rise.
 Laboratory Diagnosis

• Specimen-Nasal washing, throat swab

• Isolation- Grow in cell culture
• Serology- 4 fold rise in antibody titer.
• PCR
• Rapid tests- Detection of antigens.
Vaccine
• There are killed vaccine
which contains killed
influenza A & B viruses.
• Other form: Disrupted (split)
virus, Purified surface
antigen.
• Another experimental
vaccine”temperature
sensitive mutants”.