Influenza: 10.28.2022. Study Questions Flashcards
why is influenza sometimes deadly?
influenza virus alone can kill otherwise healthy people, but most deaths are due to secondary bacterial infections like pneumonia, because of the virally induced damage to the respiratory epithelium
what is antigenic drift?
what:
how:
where:
why:
what: minor changes
how: occur naturally
where: influenza virus antigens
why: mutation
minor changes that occur naturally in influenza virus antigens as a result of mutation
what is antigenic shift?
what:
how:
when:
who:
what: major changes in the antigenic composition of influenza viruses
how: reassortment of viral RNA
when: during infection of same host cell by
who: different viral strains
major changes in the antigenic composition of influenza viruses that result from reassortment of viral RNA during infection of the same host cell by different viral strains
how is the influenza virus transmitted? (2)
from droplets or fomites (objects that might carry infections)
why does the influenza vaccine change every year?
cause the virus changes every year
why can influenza vaccine be ineffective some years?
the disease changes so rapidly that the vaccine can be ineffective by the end of the season
describe the structure of the influenza virus? (3)
enveloped, single-stranded negative RNA virus with a segmented genome
what do influenza drugs inhibit? (name all targets)
- uncoating process
- act on M2
- NA inhibitors
can antibiotics help treat influenza?
no
what type of preventive vaccines are available for influenza?
preventative for (IV) real (R.I.L.)
IIV: inactivated influenza vaccine
RIV: recombinant influenza vaccine
LAIV: live attenuated influenza vaccine
why do you need to take the “flu shot” every year?
because the viruses change so quickly
