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Influenza Virus Mutate

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Influenza virus can mutate in two ways, Antigenic shift and Antigenic drift. The genome is in 8 segments of RNA. Each of those 8 segments must be packaged within the viral particle in order for it to be viable. Influenza virus uses an RNA polymerase enzyme that doesn’t proofread. This allows for point mutations, incorrect bases are inserted into the genome which causes minor changes in 1 to 2 amino acids. Mutations cause slight variations in the shapes of the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. This prevents neutralizing antibodies from binding. If a person were exposed to the new mutant strain, their immune system won’t be able to protect them. This is called antigenic drift and may happen anytime the virus replicates. Point mutations are most

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