Question...Is Influenza A anaerobic or aerobic?

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I apologize if this is posted in the wrong section but I didn't know where else to post it.

I have been researching for 3 days and cannot find a viable documented source as to whether Influenza A is anaerobic or aerobic. Does anyone know? I am leaning toward anaerobic. I would be greatly appreciative if someone knew the answer to this and where it could be cited.

Thanks.

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NotReady4PrimeTime, RN

5 Articles; 7,358 Posts

Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Influenza A is a virus... Viruses are small infectious agents that only replicate within living cells of other organisms. They are "non-cellular" and have no metabolism of their own. So by definition, they're anaerobic.

MunoRN, RN

8,058 Posts

Specializes in Critical Care.

The virus itself is not technically aerobic or anaerobic since a virus is not technically a living thing and does not have the ability for cellular respiration and metabolism, instead it relies on the cellular respiration and metabolism of the cell it is invading. Using a practical definition of aerobic and anaerobic (does it prefer an oxygen rich or oxygen free environment), many viruses would be considered anaerobic since they are much more likely to become inactivated in an oxygen rich environment.

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Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN

6 Articles; 11,661 Posts

Specializes in OR, Nursing Professional Development.

I have only ever heard aerobic and anaerobic used to describe bacteria. Influenza is a virus. Viruses are technically only DNA or RNA encased in protein (not an actual cell) and are not alive but capable of replication.

EmergencyRN22

113 Posts

Specializes in Emergency Room.

Yes!!! Based on what cells the virus hijacks.

KatieMI, BSN, MSN, RN

1 Article; 2,675 Posts

Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Viruses, by definition, cannot be aerobic or anaerobic since they by themselves do not perform energy utilization processes of any kind, with oxygen or without it.

A virus might be only able to infect and multiply within one certain type of cells which, in turn, can be aerobic or aanaerobic, but it has nothing to do with properties of the virus.

Viruses can we both. Ex, Influenza is aerobic and HIV is anaerobic

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