How quickly does the influenza virus mutate?

January 26th, 2011 | Flu Symptoms and Signs Scroll Down To Read Answers To The Question

I read that the virus mutates inside your body. It does so by changing it’s protein coat, but is the RNA still the same? And what are these epidemiological studies based off of that get the most recent strains? If they get the most recent strain from the population and it possibly already mutated in them, what percentage of people really will be protected? And how long does it take to make the flu vaccine anyway? I have lots of questions! :)

  1. vadaptre says:

    The cell nucleus is ‘hijacked to produce the virus..protein coat vRNA and all.Statistically mutate rate for virRNA is about 1 in 10000. There doesn’t exist correctase 4 RNA transcrip. Since the fluvir is about 10000 bases long..statistically every nufluvir is a mutant!
    I would imagine that some of these mutations wud be benign and some lethal to the flu virus itself. Prolly better studying the epidemiology to find out..ur right.. lottsa q’s!

  2. William D says:

    The proteins are coded for by the RNA so that the changes that we see in the proteins are due to the changes in the RNA itself. Influenza viruses do mutate quickly and this is why a new human flu vaccine must be developed each year. The decision on which vaccines to use is based on epidemiological studies which identify the circulating influenza viruses.

    What you are saying is correct though. Some people may not be fully protected by the vaccine because the virus they are infected with has already mutated.

    The flu vaccine is produced in chicken eggs and can take up to a month to produce and cross-check.

    Hope this helps !

    If you have more questions you can ask me through my website http://www.viciousviruses.com



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