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The role of influenza neuraminidase transmembrane domain on budding and virus morphology

Roddy, Scott, Edward (2014) The role of influenza neuraminidase transmembrane domain on budding and virus morphology. Master of Science by Research (MScRes) thesis, University of Kent,. (KAR id:47465)

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Abstract

Influenza A virus neuraminidase (NA), a type II transmembrane glycoprotein plays a role in the cleavage of sialic acids and facilitating the release of mature virions from the surface of infected cells. NA has also previously been shown to play a role in virion formation during influenza A virus budding, although the exact mechanisms by which NA contributes to influenza virion formation and morphology is currently unknown. Previous research has shown that mutations within the transmembrane domain (TMD) of NA can result in alteration in virion morphology, particularly in the production of filament like influenza virions. In this research project we examined if the TMD does indeed play a role in influenza virus budding and morphology. We utilised both full and partial mutations of the TMD of NA from A/WSN/33, a primarily spherical lab adapted influenza strain, with the TMD of a primarily filamentous strain A/California/09. To evaluate the effects of TMD on the morphology of a primarily spherical strain with that of filamentous strain. This study used a transfection based virus like particle (VLP) system to examine the effects of TMD alterations on morphology, utilising various biochemical and microscopy methods. Our findings show that as previously indicated mutations within the TMD do result in alterations to virion morphology, as well as showing that despite previous theories both NA and NA’s TMD may play a more active role in in budding and morphology than previously thought

Item Type: Thesis (Master of Science by Research (MScRes))
Thesis advisor: Rossman, Jeremy
Uncontrolled keywords: Influenza, Influenza A, Budding, morphology, neuraminidase, NA, virion, transmembrane domain, TMD
Subjects: Q Science > QR Microbiology > QR355 Virology
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Funders: Organisations -1 not found.
Depositing User: Users 1 not found.
Date Deposited: 28 Feb 2015 01:00 UTC
Last Modified: 24 May 2023 09:32 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/47465 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Roddy, Scott, Edward.

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