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Filamentous influenza viruses

Bernadeta Dadonaite1, Swetha Vijayakrishnan2, Ervin Fodor1

  • 1Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, South Parks Rd, Oxford OX1 3RE, UK.

The Journal of General Virology
|July 2, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Influenza virus can form long filamentous particles, a shape often missed in lab studies. This review explores the structure and potential role of these elongated virions in influenza infections.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Clinical influenza virus isolates exhibit pleomorphism, producing both spherical and extremely long filamentous virions.
  • Laboratory-adapted influenza strains predominantly yield spherical virions, leading to the underrepresentation of the filamentous form in research.
  • Recent advancements in imaging techniques and animal models have renewed interest in the distinct characteristics and clinical significance of filamentous influenza virions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current knowledge regarding the structure of filamentous influenza virus particles.
  • To discuss the potential functional relevance and roles of filamentous virions in clinical influenza infections.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing literature on influenza virus morphology and clinical relevance.
  • Synthesis of data from recent imaging studies and animal models focusing on filamentous virions.

Main Results:

  • Filamentous influenza virions possess unique structural properties distinct from spherical forms.
  • The filamentous phenotype, though often overlooked, may play a significant role in the pathogenesis of influenza.

Conclusions:

  • Filamentous influenza virions represent an important, yet understudied, aspect of influenza virus biology.
  • Further research into filamentous virions is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of influenza virus infection and disease progression.

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