Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes
09:35

Purification and Visualization of Influenza A Viral Ribonucleoprotein Complexes

Published on: February 9, 2009

A morphological study of the internal component of influenza virus

J D Almeida, C M Brand

    The Journal of General Virology
    |June 1, 1975
    PubMed

    Insights

    Influenza virus ribonucleoprotein (RNP) appears as a continuous 6 nm helix. This influenza RNP structure is highly sensitive to physical and chemical treatments, often fracturing during analysis.

    Area of Science:

    • Virology
    • Molecular Biology
    • Microscopy

    Background:

    • Influenza virus internal structure visualization is crucial for understanding viral replication.
    • Previous studies lacked detailed imaging of the viral ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complex.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To visualize the internal ribonucleoprotein (RNP) component of influenza virus.
    • To investigate the structural integrity and stability of the influenza virus RNP.

    Main Methods:

    • Rapid treatment of influenza virus with non-ionic detergent on a microscope grid.
    • High-resolution electron microscopy to image viral components.

    Main Results:

    • Micrographs revealed the influenza virus RNP as a continuous 6 nm diameter strand.
    • The RNP strand was arranged in a double coil or helical formation.
    • Degradation signs were observed in most helices despite minimal sample treatment.

    Conclusions:

    • The ribonucleoprotein (RNP) component of influenza virus is highly sensitive to chemical and physical manipulations.
    • Treatments can cause the continuous RNP strand to fracture.
    • Potential specific points of breakage along the influenza RNP strand exist.

    More Related Videos

    In Vitro Disassembly of Influenza A Virus Capsids by Gradient Centrifugation07:24

    In Vitro Disassembly of Influenza A Virus Capsids by Gradient Centrifugation

    Published on: March 27, 2016

    Subnanometer-Resolution Structural Determination of Hemagglutinin from Cryo-Electron Tomography of Influenza Viruses08:19

    Subnanometer-Resolution Structural Determination of Hemagglutinin from Cryo-Electron Tomography of Influenza Viruses

    Published on: November 7, 2025

    Related Concept Videos

    Viral Structure00:56

    Viral Structure

    Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.
    Leaky Scanning02:28

    Leaky Scanning

    During most eukaryotic translation processes, the small 40S ribosome subunit scans an mRNA from its 5' end until it encounters the first start AUG codon. The large 60S ribosomal subunit then joins the smaller one to initiate protein synthesis. The location of the translation initiation is largely determined by the nucleotides near the start codon as there may be multiple translation initiation sites present on the mRNA.  Marilyn Kozak discovered that the sequence RCCAUGG (where R stands for...
    Introduction to Virus01:28

    Introduction to Virus

    Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
    Influenza01:27

    Influenza

    Influenza is an acute, highly communicable viral disease that affects the respiratory tract and is responsible for seasonal epidemics worldwide. Influenza A is the most prevalent type associated with widespread outbreaks and is subtyped based on two surface glycoproteins: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N), as in H1N1. These glycoproteins are essential for viral infectivity, transmission, and immune recognition. Transmission occurs primarily through respiratory droplets and contaminated...
    Inhibitors Of Virion Release01:25

    Inhibitors Of Virion Release

    Viral replication and dissemination rely on efficient mechanisms for host cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and release. Influenza viruses, such as types A and B, are negative-sense single-stranded RNA viruses with a segmented genome, that depend on two critical surface glycoproteins to carry out these processes: hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA). HA initiates infection by binding to sialic acid residues on the surface of host epithelial cells, facilitating receptor-mediated...