Influenza and Respiratory

Syncytial Viruses
Dr Kasonda

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session, students
are expected to be able to:
Describe characteristics of Influenza
and Respiratory syncytial viruses
Describe medical importance of
Influenza and Respiratory syncytial
viruses

Influenza Virus
Characteristics and Morphology
Influenza viruses belong to the family Orthomyxoviridae which
bears the following characteristics.
o The Virion is spherical, pleomorphic, 80120 nm in diameter
o Bears helical nucleocapsid
o Genome is single-stranded RNA, segmented (eight
molecules)
o Envelope contains viral hemagglutinin (HA) and
neuraminidase (NA) proteins located at different spikes.
o Replication is by nuclear transcription; particles mature by
budding from plasma membrane.

o The viral multiplication cycle proceeds rapidly

o New progeny viruses are produced within 810
hours
o Antigenic shifting is common among members
of the same genus.
- Influenza viruses especially influenza A
show changes in the antigenicity of their
haemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins .
- This property contributes to the capacity to
cause devastating worldwide epidemics .

Structure of Influenza Virus

Two Types of Antigenic Changes

Antigenic shifts: These are major changes
based on the reassortment of segments of the
genome
RNA.
Antigenic drift: These are minor changes based
on mutations in the genome RNA .
o The antigenicity of the internal nucleocapsid
protein determines whether the virus is
an A,B or C influenza virus
o Influenza A virus is the main cause of worldwide
epidemics.

Diseases Caused by Influenza Virus

Influenza attacks mainly the upper respiratory tract. It poses a
serious risk for the elderly, the very young, and people with
underlying medical conditions such as lung, kidney, or
heart problems, diabetes, or cancer.
Laboratory Diagnosis of Influenza
Specimen
o Blood
o Nasal scrapings
Technique
o Serology
o Tissue culture
Drug of Choice
Amantadine
Rimantadine

Characteristics of Respiratory
Syncytial Virus [RSV]
The respiratory syncytia virus belong
to the family Paramyxoviridae
RSV are enveloped, with a helical
nucleocapsid
One piece of single-stranded RNA
Have fusion protein in its surface
spikes, which is the major
pathogenicity factor.

Structure of Respiratory Syncytia

Virus

Disease Caused by
Syncytial Virus
Bronchiolitis and pneumonia in infants
Otitis media in older children
Pneumonia in immunocompromised children and adults
Laboratory Diagnosis
Specimen
o Respiratory secretions
Technique
o Tissue culture
Drug of Choice
Aerosolized Ribavirin

Key Points
Influenza viruses belong to the family
Orthomyxoviridae
Influenza pandemic is caused by antigenic shift
The envelopes of influenza virus is covered with
spikes which contain hemaglutinin, neuraminidase,
and fusion protein that causes cell fusion and
hemolysis
Repiratory syncythial virus has spikes which contain
fusion protein that causes cell fusion
Giant cell formation by RSV is a result of cell fusion.

Evaluation
What are the characteristics of
Influenza viruses?
What are the characteristic features
of the Respiratory syncytial virus?
What is the medical importance of
Influenza and RSV?

 Thank you