First real-time visualization reveals that protein molecules on virus surface reach out to hijack target cells and reset the trap whether they failBOSTON (June 28,2018)—For the first time, scientists have directly visualized in real-time structural changes in the surface protein of the influenza virus that may relieve the virus to fuse with and enter target cells before hijacking their functions. Researchers at Tufts University School of Medicine found that single molecules of the protein hemagglutinin (HA) that reside on the surface of the virus unfold to stretch toward target cells, and then refold and try again 5 to 10 times per moment.
Source: tufts.edu