CDC has posted images of the H1N1/2009 (aka swine flu) virus. This looks like it is grown in tissue culture (probably dog kidney cancer cells). It presents the ideal picture of a spherical virus studded with HA and NA protein spikes on its surface and enveloped with capsular material derived from the host cell. When flu virus infects actual organ tissue in an intact host it is pleomorphic, i.e., it has a variety of shapes, including a long threadlike one. However this is its ideal shape, often rendered in cartoon or diagram form in textbooks.
Here's a typical diagram of a flu virus:
Source: wikipedia
Medicine & Health
Comments
Is there any validity to the story I just read about the swine flu being a cover up for the industrial-sized factory hog farms' improper waste removal practices and overall deplorable hog raising techniques?
The article was entitled Flying Pigs, Tamiflu and Factory Farms / By F. William Engdahl can be found at: http://www.bestcyrano.org/?p=1250
Just looking for some truth here.
Posted by: bones | May 3, 2009 12:43 AM
Interesting. Doesn't look anything like a pig, however. Keep track of the outbreak at FluCount.org
Posted by: Felix | May 3, 2009 12:46 AM
For the record, science is so freakin' cool. I sometimes find myself regretting that I gave up on microbiology after seeing the math requirements for a B.S.
Posted by: dmv | May 3, 2009 10:18 AM
Beautiful!
Posted by: Comrade PhysioProf | May 3, 2009 1:05 PM
Thank you for up to date so fast.
Always good to read http://scienceblogs.com
Can find many things to read and learn not to mention interconnection with other scienceblogs.
:)
Posted by: Ana Ivkovic | May 4, 2009 6:30 AM
Very Interesting. Thats why I love science, glad I didn't give it up. Cool picture!
Posted by: Brittany | May 4, 2009 5:01 PM