| Background | H5N1 is a subtype of the species Influenza A virus of the Influenzavirus A genus of the Orthomyxoviridae family. consists of single-stranded eight-segment negative-sense genomic RNAs, helical viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes (RNA segments NP, PB2, PB1 and PA) , three viral envelope proteins (hemagglutinin [HA], neuraminidase [NA], and M2 ion channel) , and a maxtir (M1) protein. Influenza A viruses are further classified into 16 HA (H1-H16) and 9 (N1-N9) serotypes based on the antigenic characteristics of HA and envelope glycoproteins. It is responsible for binding the virus to the cell that is being infected. HA protein has two functions. Firstly, it allows the recognition of target vertebrate cells, accomplished through the binding of these cells sialic acid-containing receptors. Secondly, once bound it facilitates the entry of the viral genome into the target cells by causing the fusion of host endosomal membrane with the viral membrane. |
Information sourced from Uniprot.org
