Researchers from the University of Washington are the first to visualize the insidious way that the flu computer virus latches onto a cell and plows its room in spite of appearance , causing an infection .
Using advanced electron microscopy , a team led by Kelly Lee sequenced the stages of membrane merger — the process in which two freestanding biological entity merge to become one . Specifically , they chronicle the unification of the influenza virus and a small lipid vesicle ( or liposome ) , which was used as a sales booth - in for a cellular tissue layer . ( Using a whole cell was Laputan for the type of microscopy used in the study . ) Their resultsnow appearin the latest variation of the Journal of Virology .
“ What we ’ve done is to envision the different footfall that take place as the virus ’ fusion machinery begin to manipulate the fair game tissue layer roadblock so as to be capable to give up a hole and spill its genome lading into the mobile phone , ” Lee told Gizmodo .
This process occurs over the course of action of several stages . First , the flu virus throws out short peptide segments that essentially ferment like grappling hooks . These peptides grab onto the mark membrane , and then neuter their social organisation to twinge together the two tissue layer .
The virus then nestle up against its target , creating even large zones of contact between the two physical object . These impinging sites begin to unzip and wear out down , opening up a groove from the virus into the interior of the liposome . The virus then return its genome consignment to start a new infection .
“ Basically , these virus have acquire nanoscopic machine that respond to triggers and change their structure like transformer , ” enjoin Lee . “ They really are bantam machines that carry out surgery at the nanoscopic biologic exfoliation . ”
The researchers say the accurate same process go on when the computer virus attacks and infiltrate a real , full - sized prison cell . Any virus that has a tissue layer — such as the flu , herpes , HIV , measles , and ebola — is equipped with alike molecular machinery . This enable them to occupy cells — and they do so by rend launch the tissue layer roadblock that are in its way .
Antibodies can target this machinery , locking them into place so that the virus ca n’t change its social organisation , or preventing it from binding to the target .
In improver to helping with enquiry into these antibodies , Lee hopes that his squad ’s work will also help to improve the agreement of other vital biological functions , such as sperm - egg fertilization and signaling across nerve synapsis .
[ Journal of Virology ]
BiologyInfectionInfluenzaScienceViruses
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