Question

1- Describe the role of hemagglutinin and neuraminidase in regards to the biology of an influenza infection?

Answer 1

Hemagglutinin and neuraminidase are membrane glycoproteins present on the surface of the
influenza virus.
Neuraminidase protein/enzyme helps in cleaving sialic acid groups from glycoproteins.
This enzyme thereby aids in influenza virus replication process.
Once replication process is being carried out then virus itself attaches to the interior
surface of the cell by using another enzyme called hemagglutinin, which is also found
on the surface of the cell. Hemagglutini basically helps in binding the viruses to host cells.
In other words, both hemagglutinin and neuraminidase are the surface proteins of virus which
help them in invasion.