Comparison of different influenza morphologies and dimensions. (A) Representative electron micrograph image of two spherical A/WSN/33 virions. Scale bar represents 200 nm. Below is a schematic of spherical virion morphology, showing the hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), and matrix 2 (M2) proteins embedded within the lipid bilayer. (B) Representative electron micrograph image of a bacilliform A/Udorn/72 virion. Scale bar represents 200 nm. Below is a schematic of bacilliform morphology, showing that beneath the lipid bilayer lies the matrix 1 (M1) protein that forms a core within which lies the eight ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes. (C) Representative electron micrograph image of a filamentous A/Udorn/72 virion. Scale bar represents 500 nm. Below is a schematic of filamentous virion morphology, showing the arrangement of the RNPs within the enlarged tip of the filament, known as an Archetti body.
#MicrobiologyMonday: Influenza viruses come in different shapes (e.g., spherical or filamentous), and that shape affects how they infect cells. Filamentous forms move more directly, possibly increasing uptake by host cells. Learn more in #MMBRJournal: asm.social/2tU