The periods of the influenza virus strategically adapt their shape – they become either spheres or larger threads – to increase the ability to infect the cells, depending on the environmental conditions.
This showed a new study of scientists from the American National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases (Niaid), the press service of the university reports.
This previously unrecognized reaction can help explain how the flu A and other viruses remain in populations, avoid an immune response and acquire adaptive mutations, ”the researchers emphasize.
It is noted that in the course of the study, scientists tried to find out why many particles of influenza A exist in the form of threads, since the formation of a threaded form requires greater energy than the formation of the sphere, and its prevalence was not explained earlier.
To find the answer, the researchers have developed a method for observing and measuring the structure of the flu virus A in real time during its formation. As a result, it was found that:
- Influenza viruses and quickly change their shape when they fall into conditions that reduce the effectiveness of infection, such as the presence of antiviral antibodies or incompatibility with the host body;
- The shape of the virus is dynamic and depends on the environment, and not on fixed deformation, as is usually considered.
The study evaluated 16 different combinations of the virus and cells, which led to predictable trends in form changes.
It was noted that previous experiments of the research group showed that the threads of flu A may resist inactivation with antibodies.
So, now scientists work to understand how antibodies affect the shape and effectiveness of infection. They also expect to find out how viral mutations affect the form of the virus.
Many other viruses, such as measles, Ebola, NIPA virus, Handra virus and respiratory syncytial virus, also use strategy for mixed infection, researchers are added.
Source: Racurs
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