What does the flu molecule look like?

Influenza virus has a rounded shape (although it can be elongated or irregularly shaped) and has a layer of spikes on the outside. There are two different kinds of spikes, each made of a different protein – one is the hemagglutinin (HA) protein and the other is the neuraminidase (NA) protein.

How big is a flu germ?

Influenza virus particles have a size of 80–120 nm. Hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase are the two most abundant proteins on the surface of Influenza A virus particles.

How long do flu germs live in a room?

Studies have shown that flu viruses can remain infectious for 4 to 9 hours and cold viruses for up to 24 hours, so frequent cleaning of commonly touched items and surfaces throughout the working day, particularly if people with symptoms are present (for example in doctor’s waiting rooms), can help reduce transmission.

What are the 3 basic influenza germs?

This illness is different from a cold. While more than 100 different viruses can cause a cold, only influenza virus types A, B, and C cause the flu. Type A and B viruses cause the large seasonal outbreaks. Type C usually causes milder respiratory symptoms.

Is the flu a spiked virus?

Both viruses possess distinguishing surface proteins that serve as important virulence factors for infection. SARS-CoV-2 is covered in spike (S) proteins that facilitate invasion of host cells….Surface Proteins.

Viral Protein Function	Influenza	SAR-CoV-2
Exit from host cells	NA	Not applicable

What is the flu virus made up of?

All influenza viruses consist of single-stranded RNA as opposed to dual-stranded DNA. The RNA genes of influenza viruses are made up of chains of nucleotides that are bonded together and coded by the letters A, C, G and U, which stand for adenine, cytosine, guanine, and uracil, respectively.

Is a virus smaller than bacteria?

Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and require living hosts — such as people, plants or animals — to multiply. Otherwise, they can’t survive. When a virus enters your body, it invades some of your cells and takes over the cell machinery, redirecting it to produce the virus.

Does flu spread through air?

The flu is mainly spread by breathing in air from infected people when they cough, sneeze, or talk. People can also get the flu by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching their eyes, nose, or mouth.

How long is flu a contagious?

Period of Contagiousness People with flu are most contagious in the first 3-4 days after their illness begins. Some otherwise healthy adults may be able to infect others beginning 1 day before symptoms develop and up to 5 to 7 days after becoming sick.