Internal and surface structure of Hong Kong influenza virus.

Negative-contrast electron-microscope studies of the A2/Aichi/2/68 strain of the Hong Kong influenza virus variant have revealed structural details which are compared with those of other influenza viruses.The structures of the ribonucleoprotein strand and of the virus envelope, in particular, are illustrated at magnifications of from x200 000 to x330 000.The authors conclude that by the microscope technique used the Hong Kong virus is indistinguishable from earlier influenza A viruses and similar in general design to influenza C viruses.