Saturday, November 14, 2009

The peculiar structure of Influenza reminds me of midieval weaponry

Have you ever seen a 1 Ball Triple Strike Mace? It is a weapon that was used in ancient times to symbolize power. When I think of influenza, this is what I picture. Much like the mace that holds a steel ball with spikes, the influenza structure is strikingly similar in that aspect.

This spherically-shaped enveloped virus is stealthy in nature as it searches for a place to adhere 80% of it’s spikes. These glycoprotein spikes are called hemagglutinin and allow the capability to
bind and begin clumping red blood cells. The Protein Data Bank claims that this ability is the reason why this virus is effective in harming its host. The other 20% of influenza spikes are called neuraminidase. These neuraminidase glycoprotein’s allow cleavage from host glycoprotein’s so that the virus can be released from the cell.

Again, I go back to my medieval weaponry. Both are similar in structure but are also similar in their nature to cause great bodily harm. The Center for Disease Control is unable to capture an exact number of influenza related deaths for a variety of reasons. However, there is evidence that suggests it is quite fatal to many as it can be the smoking gun to another illness, that when
combined, can be powerful and deadly. See the resemblance?

http://micro.magnet.fsu.edu/cells/viruses/influenzavirus.html
http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/disease/symptoms.htm
http://www.historicalweapons.com/otherweapons.html
http://www.pdb.org/pdb/static.dop=education_discussion/molecule_of_the_month/pdb76_1.html

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