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What is the difference between H1N1 H1N2 H3N2 and H3N1 viruses?

Overview:H1N1, H1N2, and H3N2 are the only known Influenza A virus subtypes currently circulating among humans. All the subtypes listed in the question, i.e., H1N1, H1N2, H3N1 and H3N2 are the known subtypes of influenza A viruses that are endemic in pigs and create influenza in pigs, from which reassortants have formed new strains that can be infective to humans. H1N1 is the "swine flu" subtype of influenza, of which there are several different strains. This subtype is usually seen in humans and pigs. The better known reassortant H1N1 virus strain currently circulating is H1N1/09, the pandemic swine flu virus that caused the pandemic of 2009 and infected humans, pigs, birds, ferrets, dogs, and cats during the pandemic. There are several other less well known strains of the H1N1 subtype.H1N2 is a common flu in pigs in the Upper Midwest of the US. Until 2011, only one case had been known to occur in humans and that was in 2007 in Michigan. The second ever known case was found in an infant in December 2011 in Minnesota.H3N1 mostly only infects pigs.H3N2 is the subtype that produced a strain of flu that caused the Hong Kong Flu and another was the cause of the Fujian Flu, etc. In birds, humans, and pigs, there have been many new strains mutated and this subtype is becoming more prevalent in seasonal influenza.For background, the meanings of "H" and "N" in the nomenclature:Hemagglutinin: An important surface protein on the capsid (coat) of the influenza virus that is essential for the reproduction and the spread of the virus in the body in the lytic cycle of virus replication. This protein enables the virus to attach itself to a cell in the respiratory system or other mucous tissue and penetrate it to invade and use the host cell for reproduction. Referred to as the "H" in influenza viruses.Neuraminidase: An important surface structure protein of the influenza virus that is an essential enzyme for the spread of the virus throughout the respiratory tract. It enables the virus to escape the host cell and infect new cells. Referred to as the "N" in influenza viruses.See more about the lytic cycle and influenza virus nomenclature in the related questions below.Types of Influenza VirusesThere are three types of influenza viruses: Types A, B and C. Influenza A and B viruses cause seasonal outbreaks and epidemics of influenza virus infections each flu season. Type A causes all pandemics. Influenza type C infections cause a mild respiratory illness and are not thought to cause epidemics. Influenza A viruses are divided into subtypes based on the configuration of the two proteins on the surface of the viruses: hemagglutinin (H) and neuraminidase (N). [Not all H1N1 viruses are the same; not all H5N1 viruses are the same.....etc] There are 16 different hemagglutinin subtypes and 9 different neuraminidase subtypes. Influenza A viruses can be further broken down into different strains.Influenza B viruses are not divided into subtypes. Influenza B viruses also can be further broken down into different strains.Influenza A (H1N1), A (H3N2), and influenza B strains are included in each year's influenza vaccine. Getting a flu vaccination can protect against influenza A and B viruses. The flu vaccine does not protect against influenza C viruses.More information including how influenza viruses change: Drift and ShiftInfluenza viruses are dynamic and are continuously mutating, reassorting, and evolving. Influenza viruses can change in two different ways: antigenic drift and antigenic shift. Influenza viruses are changing by antigenic drift all the time, but antigenic shift happens only occasionally. Influenza type A viruses undergo both kinds of changes; influenza type B viruses change only by the more gradual process of antigenic drift. Antigenic drift refers to small, gradual changes that occur through point mutations in the two genes that contain the genetic material to produce the main surface proteins, hemagglutinin, and neuraminidase. These point mutations occur unpredictably and result in minor changes to these surface proteins. Antigenic drift produces new virus strains that may not be recognized by antibodies produced after exposure to earlier influenza strains.This process works as follows: a person infected with a particular influenza virus strain develops antibodies against that strain. As newer virus strains appear, the antibodies against the older strains might not recognize the "newer" virus to inactivate it, and infection with a new strain can occur. This is one of the main reasons why people can become infected with influenza viruses more than one time and why global surveillance is critical in order to monitor the evolution of human influenza virus stains for selection of which strains should be included in the annual production of influenza vaccine.In most years, one or two of the three virus strains in the seasonal influenza vaccine are updated to keep up with the changes in the circulating influenza viruses. For this reason, people who want to be immunized against influenza need to be vaccinated every year.Antigenic shift refers to an abrupt, major change to produce a novel influenza A virus subtype in humans that had not been currently circulating among people (see more information below under Influenza Type A and Its Subtypes).Antigenic shift can occur either through direct animal (poultry)-to-human transmission or through mixing of human influenza A and animal influenza A virus genes to create a new human influenza A subtype virus through a process called genetic reassortment or reassortant. Antigenic shift results in a new human influenza A subtype.A global influenza pandemic (worldwide spread) may occur if three conditions are met:A new subtype of influenza A virus is introduced into the human population.The virus causes serious illness in humans.The virus can spread easily from person to person in a sustained manner.


What does the A stand for in Influenza A virus?

The A and B in influenza are simply different types of influenza. * Type A: seasonal epidemics. This sub-type is based on changes in surface antigens hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. In humans subtypes H1-H3 and N1-N2 have circulated since 1918 pandemic (due to H1N1). In the last 3 decades the circulating types have been H3N2 and H1N1. * Type B: sporadic outbreaks (long term care facilities)


Is there a connection of A H1N1 and global warming?

The tolerance of human swine influenza is higher and less serious in terms of danger to health than global warming. Global warming is the increase in the avergae temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Swine influenza affects a vast population of the humans and clearly does not have any relation to global warming as yet.


Can you show the structure of H1N1 virus with a neat diagram?

I'm unable to display diagrams as I can only provide text-based responses. However, you can easily find detailed diagrams of the H1N1 virus structure by searching online or in scientific research articles for visual representations.


What is N95 in relation to the H1N1 influenza?

N95 is a type of respirator mask that is recommended for healthcare workers when caring for patients with infectious diseases like H1N1 influenza. N95 masks can filter out 95% of airborne particles, including viruses, and are designed to provide a tight seal around the face to enhance protection.