Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 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

Visualization of microtubule-mediated transport of influenza viral progeny ribonucleoprotein

Fumitaka Momose1, Yuji Kikuchi, Katsuhiro Komase

  • 1Kitasato Institute for Life Sciences, Kitasato University, 5-9-1 Shirokane, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8641, Japan. fmomose@lisci.kitasato-u.ac.jp

Microbes and Infection
|October 2, 2007
PubMed

Insights

A novel monoclonal antibody, mAb61A5, targets influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) and its associated ribonucleoprotein complexes. This antibody reveals NP localization dynamics influenced by microtubule networks during infection.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Immunology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Influenza virus nucleoprotein (NP) is crucial for viral replication and assembly.
  • Understanding NP interactions and localization is key to developing antiviral strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To characterize a novel monoclonal antibody, mAb61A5, targeting influenza A virus nucleoprotein (NP).
  • To investigate the epitope recognized by mAb61A5 and its interaction with viral components.
  • To elucidate the role of cellular structures in the localization of NP during influenza virus infection.

Main Methods:

  • Monoclonal antibody production and characterization using truncation and alanine substitution experiments.
  • Immunoprecipitation assays to assess antibody binding to NP and ribonucleoprotein complexes.
  • Immunofluorescence microscopy and treatment with specific inhibitors (leptomycin B, nocodazole) to study NP localization.

Main Results:

  • mAb61A5 recognizes a conformational epitope on NP residues 17-123, with variations affecting reactivity.
  • The antibody preferentially binds to viral ribonucleoprotein complexes (vRNPs) over free NP.
  • vRNPs form punctate structures in the cytoplasm, accumulating at the microtubule organizing center and co-localizing with microtubules.
  • Microtubule networks are essential for the polarized distribution of vRNPs, but not their formation.

Conclusions:

  • mAb61A5 is a valuable tool for studying influenza virus NP and vRNP dynamics.
  • Microtubule-dependent transport influences the localization of newly formed viral ribonucleoprotein complexes.
  • These findings provide insights into the late stages of influenza virus replication and assembly.

More Related Videos

Live Cell Imaging of Alphaherpes Virus Anterograde Transport and Spread15:31

Live Cell Imaging of Alphaherpes Virus Anterograde Transport and Spread

Published on: August 16, 2013

Single-Cell Multiplexed Fluorescence Imaging to Visualize Viral Nucleic Acids and Proteins and Monitor HIV, HTLV, HBV, HCV, Zika Virus, and Influenza Infection07:24

Single-Cell Multiplexed Fluorescence Imaging to Visualize Viral Nucleic Acids and Proteins and Monitor HIV, HTLV, HBV, HCV, Zika Virus, and Influenza Infection

Published on: October 29, 2020

Related Concept Videos

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
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...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
Microtubules in Cell Motility01:24

Microtubules in Cell Motility

Microtubules are thick hollow cylindrical proteins that help form the cytoskeleton. Microtubules have varied roles in the cell. These filaments help form cellular appendages like cilia and flagella, which are responsible for locomotion. The cilia arise from basal bodies, separated from the main body by a membrane-like structure forming the transition zone. This zone is the gate for the entry of lipids and proteins, creating a unique composition of lipids and proteins in the ciliary membrane and...
Immunofluorescence Microscopy01:12

Immunofluorescence Microscopy

A fluorescence microscope uses fluorescent chromophores called fluorochromes, which can absorb energy from a light source and then emit this energy as visible light. Fluorochromes include naturally fluorescent substances (such as chlorophylls) and fluorescent stains that are added to the specimen to create contrast. Dyes such as Texas red and FITC are examples of fluorochromes. Other examples include the nucleic acid dyes 4’,6’-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI), and acridine orange.
The...
Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum01:34

Directing Proteins to the Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum

The organelle-specific signaling sequences direct proteins synthesized in the cytosol to their final destination like ER, mitochondria, peroxisomes, etc. Some of the proteins directed to ER are then trafficked via vesicles to other organelles within the cell or the extracellular environment through the Golgi complex. For example, the rough ER synthesizes soluble proteins for transportation to the lysosomes or secretion out of the cell. It can also synthesize transmembrane proteins that can...