Abstract
The name myxovirus was originally proposed for a group of viruses that then included influenza, mumps, and Newcastle disease viruses. These viruses had in common an affinity for certain mucins and physical and biological properties such as the ability to adsorb to red blood cells of chickens and various other species, causing hemagglutination. The viruses also possess an enzyme, neuraminidase that cleaves neuraminic acid from mucoproteins. With increasing knowledge of the structure and replication of these viruses, it has become apparent that they fall into two groups with distinct properties. The members of both the influenza and parainfluenza virus groups are found in a variety of vertebrate species. Many of these viruses infect the respiratory tract, although avian influenza viruses and several of the parainfluenza viruses cause severe generalized diseases. This chapter describes the structure of influenza viruses, morphology of influenza and parainfluenza viruses, and the chemical composition of the influenza virion.
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