Knowra Influenza A virus Influenza A virus Influenza A viruses are enveloped RNA viruses that infect humans and many other animals. Their changing surface proteins enable recurring seasonal epidemics and occasional pandemics.
Influenza A virus life cycle : The sequence of cell entry, genome replication, protein production, assembly, and release used by influenza A viruses. This sequence explains how the virus uses host cells to make infectious particles.
Orthomyxoviridae : A family of enveloped, negative-sense RNA viruses that includes influenza viruses. Influenza A belongs to this family, distinguished in part by segmented genomes.
Influenza vaccine : A vaccine designed to induce immunity against influenza viruses and reduce illness and complications. Seasonal vaccines are updated to match predicted circulating influenza A strains, often alongside influenza B.
1918 influenza pandemic : A global influenza pandemic in 1918–1920 associated with an H1N1 influenza A virus. Its exceptional mortality illustrates the consequences of a pandemic influenza A strain.
Hemagglutinin : A viral surface glycoprotein that binds host-cell receptors and mediates membrane fusion during influenza infection. It enables entry into respiratory cells and is a major target of neutralizing antibodies.
Influenza virus : A group of viruses that cause influenza in humans and other animals. Influenza A is one of the influenza virus types, alongside B, C, and D.
Influenza surveillance : The systematic monitoring of influenza infections, circulating strains, and disease activity. Surveillance detects strain changes and informs vaccine composition and outbreak responses.
2009 flu pandemic : A global pandemic caused by a novel H1N1 influenza A virus first detected in 2009. The virus combined gene segments from swine, avian, and human influenza lineages.
Neuraminidase : A viral surface enzyme that cleaves sialic acid, helping newly formed influenza virions detach from infected cells. Its release function explains why neuraminidase inhibitors can limit viral spread.
Viral envelope : A lipid membrane surrounding some viruses, typically acquired from a host cell during viral release. Influenza A’s envelope carries the proteins that mediate cell entry and viral release.
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