Further understanding on influenza replication made possible through observation of its ribonucleoproteins

With the help of continued study in ribonucleoprotein functions in the Influenza virus, scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have formed better understanding of the replication process of the influenza virus once they have infected other cells. What these researchers looked into was the components of the virus, which comprised of eight ribonucleoproteins. In each of these RNPs, consist of a segment that usually is a single protein coding gene. This segment is coated with protective nucleoproteins and is also held together through a polymerase enzyme. This polymerase enzyme plays an important role in replication by "making new viral genomic RNA, and making the RNA gene-transcripts that will become new viral proteins." It also allows for what Science Daily refers to as "species barriers," meaning that the enzyme contains characteristics that keep species from being infected by the same virus that is infecting another species. The article makes this clearer by giving the example of avian flu virus being unable to infect mammals.

Because this polymerase enzyme gene in the virus has very complex functions, what researchers are trying to do is replicate that same gene, as well as the ribonucleoproteins, in the lab. They were able to create a system that produced the same proteins and RNA components to make a complete ribonuceloprotein and allow for that RNP to self replicate. Designing a system that allowed for RNP replication was a huge feat once the researchers were able to capture photos of this process. This action has not been seen before. Now, these new photos indicate the actual process of binding among the polymerase and RNA, transcription, and how it assists in the actual replication of the virus. This new discovery will allow for improvement in flu drugs since scientists are now able to understand the function of RNPs.