1. TRUE OR FALSE

A complete M2 protein is necessary for replication of influenza A virus in BALB/c mice.

Answer False. Mutant isotypes of M2 can replicate in BALB/c mice, but less efficiently.

2. Which of these techniques measured the amount of M2 protein contained in the viral envelope?

A. Plaque assay Wrong. Plaque assays are for measuring viral concentration. Item

B. Western Blot Correct. Western blot measures the relative concentration of proteins

C. Gel diffusion Wrong. This method was not even incorporated into the experiment

3. Suppose we treat wild-type Influenza A virus and an M2 mutant type of Influenza A virus with an M2 ion channel blocker in low concentrations. Which isotype is more likely to have replication inhibited?

A. Wild-type Correct. The amantadine exp. proves that the wild-type is more easliy inhibited in low concentrations by amantidine, a well known channel blocker.

B. Mutant type Wrong. In the case of amantidine, the mutant iostypes were slightly inhibited under low concentrations

4. The M2HATM M2 mutant is being thought to be used as a vaccine. What type of vaccine can it be used as?

A. Inactivated vaccine Incorrect. The M2 mutant can infect and replicate in a host cell. Inactivated vaccines are viruses that cannot infect

B. Live vaccine Correct. In culture, this virus replicated well but in mice it was highly attenuated. This is a key advantage for live vaccines.

C. Sub unit vaccine Incorrect. The transmembrane portion of the virus is contained within the membrane therefore antibodies would have no where to bind

5. The transmembrane excised mutants (M2HATM & DM2TMCYT) showed replication in vitro, but not in mice. Why?

Host defense mechanisms. Correct. The host organs probably eliminated the mutant viruses by the host defense mechanisms including the immune system.

Mutant was for humans, not mice Incorrect. That has no bearing in this case. If this was specific for humans, the other mutants in the mice would not have shown any replication ability