Common questions

What is the function of neuraminidase and hemagglutinin?

What is the function of neuraminidase and hemagglutinin?

Hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein, which is responsible for virus attachment, interacts with the fusion protein in a virus type-specific manner to induce efficient membrane fusion.

What is the role of hemagglutinin?

The hemagglutinin(HA) of influenza virus is a major glycoprotein and plays a crucial role in the early stage of virus infection: HA is responsible for binding of the virus to cell surface receptors, and it mediates liberation of the viral genome into the cytoplasm through membrane fusion.

What is the role of neuraminidase?

Neuraminidase cleaves the sialic acid molecule, thereby freeing the virus to infect other cells in the host organism. Antibodies against neuraminidase that are generated by the host’s immune system following infection bind to a portion of the neuraminidase antigen known as an epitope.

What are the significance of hemagglutinin H and neuraminidase N proteins?

The hemagglutinin and neuraminidase glycoproteins are important in the ability of the virus to cause influenza. A typical influenza virus particle contains some 500 molecules of hemagglutinin and 100 molecules of neuraminidase. These are studded over the surface of the virus.

What is hemagglutinin H and neuraminidase N?

Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on two proteins on the surface of the virus: the hemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). There are 18 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 11 different neuraminidase subtypes.

What do H and N do in influenza?

Influenza A and B viruses have two types of spikes that cover their surface – the haemagglutinin (H) and the neuraminidase (N). Viruses attach by their haemagglutinin onto receptors on the surface of cells in order to infect them, like a grappling hook.

What is the role of the NA neuraminidase protein in influenza infection?

Influenza A viruses generally mediate binding to cell surface sialic acid receptors via the hemagglutinin (HA) glycoprotein, with the neuraminidase (NA) glycoprotein being responsible for cleaving the receptor to allow virus release.

What is the difference between hemagglutinin and neuraminidase?

The hemagglutinin on new viral particles remains attached to sialic acid groups of glycoproteins on the external cell surface and the surface of other viral particles; neuraminadase cleaves these groups and thereby allows the release of viral particles and prevents self-aggregation.

Where is neuraminidase found?

Neuraminidase is found inside the cell, on the surface, and as a free soluble mediator. After extensive subculture in vitro, some species lose or have drastically reduced production of neuraminidase, which may suggest a role for neuraminidase in vivo but not in vitro.

Where would a virologist find hemagglutinin and neuraminidase?

The designation “H1N1” indicates unique traits, which exhibit characteristics that identify the virus to the immune system and allows for attachment and replication of the virus. The “H” (hemagglutinin) and the “N” (neuraminidases) are both proteins that are found on the outer shell or envelope of the virus.

What is HA and NA influenza?

The serotype of influenza A virus is determined by the Hemagglutinin (HA) and Neuraminidase (NA) proteins present on its surface. Neuraminidase (NA) has 11 known subtypes, hence influenza virus is named as H1N1, H5N2 etc., depending on the combinations of HA and NA.

Author Image
Ruth Doyle