Q.
H1 N1 virus longform
About: Swine Flu
14 Aug '09 01:10 pm
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Answers (3)
1.
All flu viruses human, bird, pig have an H and an N in the name, each followed by a number (the avian flu strain is H5N1, for example).
The letters H and N refer to two proteins (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) on the surface of the virus.
The numbers refer to slight variations in the form of each protein. The variations are important, because our immune system hones in on those proteins to attack the virus.
(http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/04/29/swine-flu-h1n1-wh ats-in-a-name/)
Answered by joyoti sen, 14 Aug '09 01:31 pm
The letters H and N refer to two proteins (hemagglutinin and neuraminidase) on the surface of the virus.
The numbers refer to slight variations in the form of each protein. The variations are important, because our immune system hones in on those proteins to attack the virus.
(http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2009/04/29/swine-flu-h1n1-wh ats-in-a-name/)
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