Dear Influenza
Influenza you're always rounding the corner
In the Spring season you are a peak performer
Flu shots and antivirals makes you weak
By your side, everything in life becomes bleak
In the Spring season you are a peak performer
Flu shots and antivirals makes you weak
By your side, everything in life becomes bleak
How can I escape the spread of your disease
The medications cannot put me at ease
My cells cannot keep up with your multiplication
I need prescribed Zanamivir to stop the viral proliferation
The medications cannot put me at ease
My cells cannot keep up with your multiplication
I need prescribed Zanamivir to stop the viral proliferation
You have a complex single helix in your head
As cool as it is, my fever proceeds to turn red
Post nasal drip and yellowish-green snot,
I really wish I had just gotten the flu shot
As cool as it is, my fever proceeds to turn red
Post nasal drip and yellowish-green snot,
I really wish I had just gotten the flu shot
Swollen lymph nodes, ridden with fatigue
I think your virus is out of my cell’s league
Spherical and enveloped, a virion studded with glycoprotein spikes
I hate that my cell’s sialic acid receptors allow for your strikes
I think your virus is out of my cell’s league
Spherical and enveloped, a virion studded with glycoprotein spikes
I hate that my cell’s sialic acid receptors allow for your strikes
A 13.5 kilobase genome, you seem small in size
Yet your RNA Polymerase continues to catalyze
Influenza, influenza, I wish I had never met her
In five to seven days I hope to feel much better
Yet your RNA Polymerase continues to catalyze
Influenza, influenza, I wish I had never met her
In five to seven days I hope to feel much better
Notes:
Zanamivir is a commonly prescribed over-the-counter antiviral, an inhibitor of the Influenza A and B viruses. It is used to treat the common symptoms Influenza causes.
Zanamivir is a commonly prescribed over-the-counter antiviral, an inhibitor of the Influenza A and B viruses. It is used to treat the common symptoms Influenza causes.
The influenza virus is an RNA virus, meaning its genetic material is made from ribonucleic acid. RNA viruses are made up of a single helical structure, or single-stranded genome.
The glycoprotein spikes refer to the structures present in the virion envelope of the Influenza virus. These spikes mediate the proper entry of the virus into host cells.
Sialic acid is a carbon-sugar molecule found on the glycoproteins of cell surfaces.
The influenza virus uses host cell sialic acid conformations as receptors to bind and initiate
attachment and entry into them.
The influenza virus uses host cell sialic acid conformations as receptors to bind and initiate
attachment and entry into them.
The genomes of living things can be characterized and measured by kilobases, or kb, the length of RNA or DNA within them. 1 kilobase is equivalent to 1000 nucleotide bases, the building blocks of RNA and DNA. Influenza is made up of a 13.5 kb long RNA genome.
RNA polymerases are a major group of biological enzymes. As Influenza is an RNA virus, RNA Polymerase catalyzes the rep lication and transcription processes of the virus, enabling it toreplicate within and compromise the host cell.
References
Bouvier, N. M., & Palese, P. (2008). The biology of influenza viruses. Vaccine, 26 Suppl 4(Suppl 4), D49–D53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.039
Bouvier, N. M., & Palese, P. (2008). The biology of influenza viruses. Vaccine, 26 Suppl 4(Suppl 4), D49–D53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vaccine.2008.07.039
Fodor, E., & Te Velthuis, A. J. W. (2020). Structure and Function of the Influenza Virus
Transcription and Replication Machinery. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 10(9), a038398. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a038398
Transcription and Replication Machinery. Cold Spring Harbor perspectives in medicine, 10(9), a038398. https://doi.org/10.1101/cshperspect.a038398
https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/viruses-types.html