[Home] [ICTV Taxonomy - Index of Viruses] [Virus Descriptions] [Character List] [Picture Gallery]
[Tutorial] [Online Data Retrieval & Identification] [Virus Isolate Registration & Submission] [Search]
Descriptions are generated automatically from the ICTVdB database including links. Some descriptions are only very basic and links may point to documents that are not yet published on the Web.

00.046.0.01.001. Influenza A virus

Cite this publication as: ICTVdB Management (2006). 00.046.0.01.001. Influenza A virus. In: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 4. Büchen-Osmond, C. (Ed), Columbia University, New York, USA

Cite this site as: ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, version 4. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/ICTVdb/ICTVdB/

Table of Contents

Classification

This is a description of a vertebrate virus at the species level.

ICTVdB Virus Code: 00.046.0.01.001. Virus accession number: 46001001. Obsolete virus code: 46.0.1.0.001; superceded accession number: 46010001.
NCBI Taxon Identifier NCBI Taxonomy ID: 11320.

Name, Synonyms and Lineage

ICTV approved acronym: FLUAV. Virus is the type of the genus 00.046.0.01. Influenzavirus A in the family 00.046. Orthomyxoviridae.

Virion Properties

Morphology

Virions consist of an envelope, a matrix protein, a nucleoprotein complex, a nucleocapsid, and a polymerase complex. Virus capsid is enveloped. Virions are spherical to pleomorphic; filamentous forms occur (sometimes). Virions measure 80-120 nm in diameter; 200-300(-3000) nm in length. Surface projections are densely dispersed, about 500 clustered, distinctive spikes that cover the surface evenly and comprise major glycoprotein hemagglutinin and neuraminidase that are interspersed in a ratio of HA to NA about 4-5 to 1. Surface projections are composed of different types of proteins. Surface projections are 10-14 nm long; 4-6 nm in diameter. Capsid/nucleocapsid is elongated with helical symmetry. The nucleocapsid is helical; and segments have different size classes with clear predominate lengths with a length of 50-130 nm (in different size classes). The nucleocapsids are segmented with loops at one end.

Physicochemical and Physical Properties

The molecular mass (Mr) of virions is 250 x 106. Virions have a buoyant density in sucrose of 1.19 g cm-3. The sedimentation coefficient is 700-800 S20w (for non-filamentous particles). Virions are very sensitive. Virions are sensitive to treatment with heat, lipid solvents, non-ionic detergents, formaldehyde, oxidizing agents. The infectivity is reduced after exposure to irradiation.

Nucleic Acid

The genome is segmented and consists of eight segments of linear negative-sense, single-stranded RNA. The complete genome is 13588 nucleotides long. Sequence can be accessed from EBI-EMBL, GenBank; the segment 1 is fully sequenced, complete sequence is 2341 nucleotides long. Segment 2 is sequenced, but only an estimate is available, complete sequence is 2341 nucleotides long. Segment 3 is fully sequenced, complete sequence is 2233 nucleotides long. Segment 4 has been fully sequenced, complete sequence is 1778 nucleotides long. Segment 5 has been sequenced, but only an estimate is presented, complete sequence is 1565 nucleotides long (?). Segment 6 has been sequenced, but only an estimate is given, complete sequence is 1413 nucleotides long. Segment 7 has been sequenced, but only an estimate is presented, complete sequence is 1027 nucleotides long, has been sequenced, but only an estimate is available; complete sequence is 890 nucleotides long. The genome has terminally redundant sequences. The genome sequence is repeated at both ends. Nucleotide sequences at the 3'-terminus are identical. The 5'-terminal sequence has conserved regions and repeats complementary to the 3'-terminus (5'-AGUAGAAACAAGG..., terminal repeats at the 5'-end are 13 nucleotides long. The 3'-terminus has conserved nucleotide sequences; of 12 nucleotides in length; in viruses of same species; sequence has conserved regions (3'-UCG(U/C)UUUCGUCC..., in all RNA species. The multipartite genome is encapsidated, each segment in a separate nucleocapsid, and the nucleocapsids are surrounded by one envelope. Each virion contains defective interfering copies (may be present).

GenBank records for nucleotide sequences; complete genome sequences.

Proteins

The viral genome encodes structural proteins and non-structural proteins.

Lipids

Lipids are present and located in the envelope. Virions are composed of 18-37% lipids by weight. The composition of viral lipids and host cell membranes are similar. The lipids are modified cellular lipids and are derived from plasma membranes. Proteins of host derived membranes have been modified during post-translational processes. Host-derived membranes contain viral proteins in place of host proteins.

Biological Properties

Natural Host

Virus infects during its life cycle a variety of vertebrate hosts. Domain
Viral hosts belong to the Domain Eucarya.

Domain Eucarya
Kingdom Animalia.

Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata.

Phylum Vertebrata
Subphylum Vertebrata.

Class Aves and Mammalia.

Class Mammalia Order Primates, or Artiodactyla;
Family Hominidae.
Virus infects Homo sapiens (human,
Family Suidae; Subfamily Suinae; virus infects Sus.

Transmission and Vector Relationships

Virus is transmitted by contact between hosts.

References

The following generic references are cited in the most recent ICTV Report.

PubMed References.



Limit search to: Title & Body Title Document Path
Show Reverse Sort

DELTA - DEscription Language for TAxonomy developed by Dr Mike Dallwitz, Toni Paine and Eric Zurcher, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia. ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, developed for the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses by Dr Cornelia Büchen-Osmond is written in DELTA. The virus descriptions in ICTVdB are coded by, or using data from experts in the field of virology or members ICTV. The character list is the underlying code. All virus descriptions are based on the character list and natural language translations are automatically generated and formatted for display on the Web from the descriptions in DELTA-format. The description has been generated automatically from DELTA files. DELTA - DEscription Language for TAxonomy developed by Dr Mike Dallwitz, Toni Paine and Eric Zurcher, CSIRO Entomology, Canberra, Australia.

ICTVdB - The Universal Virus Database, developed for the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) by Dr Cornelia Büchen-Osmond, is written in DELTA. The virus descriptions in ICTVdB are coded by ICTV members and experts, or by the ICTVdB Management using data provided by the experts, the literature or the latest ICTV Report. The character list is the underlying code. All virus descriptions are based on the character list and natural language translations from the encoded descriptions are automatically generated and formatted for display on the Web.

Developer of the DELTA software: M. J. Dallwitz, T. Paine and E. Zurcher

ICTVdB and DELTA related References

Comments to ICTVdB Management
Last updated on 25 April 2006 by Cornelia Büchen-Osmond
Copyright © 2002    International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses.    All rights reserved.


Additional access points to virus species lists, descriptions and images on the web:

Species catalogue                     iSpecies.org - a species search engine           a species search engine

Google Analytics      Google Analytics: activity view