Influenza

Question 1

symptoms of influenza

Answer 1

the virus attacks the respiratoery system. sudden onset of high fever, cough, muscle aches and pains, sore throat, runny nose. These symptoms usually last up to 2 weeks.

Question 2

incubation period for influenza

Answer 2

average of 1-4 days

Question 2

why cant a viral pathogen such as influenza be treated with antibiotics

Answer 2

influenza is caused by a virus
antibiotics mainly used to treat bacterial infection
antivirals used to treat viruses

Question 3

influenza pathogen type

Answer 3

RNA virus

Question 4

influenza pathogen name

Answer 4

Influenza A, B or C

Question 5

Influenza mode of transmission

Answer 5

Direct, close contact via airborne droplets when infected person coughs
Indirect via formites

Question 6

influenza life cycle specificiations

Answer 6

Entry and exit via respiratory system
Replication inside epithelial cells in the respiratory tract; human host reservoir.

Question 7

method of invasion

Answer 7

Contains genome of single stranded RNA segments, enzymes for viral replication in host cell + shell of matrix proteins
Has phospholipid envelope embedded with proteins
Binds to host cell receptor proteins found within respiratory tract
Host cell takes up virus by endocytosis
Directs host cell to make multiple copies of viral RNA, enzymes + proteins
All assembled together + released from cell

Question 8

evolutionary adaptations

Answer 8

Reassortment
2 different viral strains come in contact + transfer some genetic information (becomes a hybrid)
Can do this with strains that infect different species (ie. Bird flu)
High mutation rates
High evolution rates

Question 9

Factors Affecting Spread

Answer 9

Pre-existing conditions can correlate with enhanced influenza infection
So can chronic smoking / alcohol
Vaccination / good hygiene has decreased spread
Children spread it more
More with high population density + poor conditions

Question 10

Management Strategies - Treatment

Answer 10

Antiviral drugs
Do not destroy target pathogen (like most antibiotics) but inhibit development
Eg. Before cell entry, entry inhibitor, stopping synthesis, stopping assembly, stopping release
Targets should be different to any regular human proteins to limit side effect

Question 11

Management Strategies - Prevention

Answer 11

Flu vaccine
Causes antibody development against viruses in vaccine
Seasonal vaccines protect against the influenza strain that research indicates will be most common
Needed every year
Hygiene measures