Sketchy Micro: (Pico) Rhinovirus

Question 1

Like all Picorniviruses, Rhinovirus is ______________.

Answer 1

ssRNA, positive-sense, naked, and makes a cleavable polyprotein

Question 2

All other Picorniviruses are fecal-oral, but Rhinovirus cannot because it is ____________.

Answer 2

acid-labile (like the tourist feeding the baby rhino a lemon)

Question 3

Rhinovirus is transmitted _____________.

Answer 3

by fomites and respiratory transmission

These are represented by the sneezing rhino and the sign that says “please wash hands.”

Question 4

The Rhinovirus capsid binds to ______________.

Answer 4

ICAM-1 to enter cells (like the rhino hooking its horn onto the tourist’s CAMera and the camera in David’s hand)

Question 5

Why does Rhinovirus infect the upper respiratory tract?

Answer 5

It grows best at 33º which is closer to the temperature of the nasopharynx.

(Think of the thermometer under the tree where the rhinos are hiding because it’s cooler.)

Question 6

Why can’t there be a vaccine for Rhinovirus?

Answer 6

There are over 100 serotypes (represented by the many stripes on the tent in the exhibit).