CH 6 viruses Flashcards
CH 6
Acellular infectious agents
Require a host for replication
- viruses
- viroids
- satellites
- prions
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Archaeal Virus ATV
Infects archaea, replicates, causes cell to lyse, repeat
What’s interesting about this is that the virus is able to add proteins to its protein coat tail outside of its host. This is the first we’ve seen any virus do something like this, though most think that the proteins are made while the virus is still in the cell.
Brings up the question of where do you draw the ling of “living things.” There are some parasites and bacteria that can’t reproduce outside their host, but they’re “alive.”
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Virology
The study of viruses.
Beijerinck (1899): first to discover viruses with the TMV
Rous (1911): discovered viruses can cause cancer; Rous sarcoma virus
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Virion
Complete viral particle. Consists of nucleic acid contained within a protein coat (capsid).
Also called a nucleocapsid.
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Nucleocapsid
Nucleic acid may be DNA or RNA.
Capsid - large macromolecule structure made of protein subunits called protomers.
- single protein subunit or multiple subunits - more proteins = larger genome, where most viruses and viral genomes tend to be very small
- self-assembling
- protects the viral genetic makeup and aids in transfer between host cells
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Protomer
Single protein subunit that makes up a viral capsid.
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Smallest viruses
phi x phage - infects bacteria
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Largest viruses
Mimivirus ~ .25 micrometers. Inhabit amobea. Thought to be the biggest until this summer with the discovery of…
Pandora virus! It’s one micron with a genome of 2-2.5 megabases. Inhabits amobea
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Most viruses are very specific
Most viruses are very specific to the species and type of tissue they inhabit. Rhabo virus (rabies) can cross species, and HIV is another example of a jump across virus
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Major shapes of viral capsids
Helical
Icosohedral
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Helical Capsid
Long, hollow protein tubes.
- TMV (rigid rod structure)
- influenza virus (flexible)
Size depends on the length of the nucleic acid and the size of the protomers.
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Icosohedral Capsid
Sphere shape = large volume = more genetic material
Polyhedron 20 equilateral triangle faces.
Ring-shapes subunits called capsomers that are constructed of 5 or 6 protomers.
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Capsomers
Ring-shaped structure in icosohedral capsid composed of 5 or 6 protomers
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Complex Capsid
Name means it’s a complex structure with both icosohedral and helical elements to its structure.
Require several types of proteins to compose capsid (larger genome).
T-even bacteriophage:
- binal symmetry
- icosohedral-like head
- helical tail
Vaccinia virus
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Viral envelopes
Some viruses only have their protein capsid (“naked”), but others are surrounded by a membrane envelope.
The membrane is derived from host cell
Viral proteins in the membrane - peplomers involved in attaching to next host cell and entering it.
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Peplomers
Viral proteins that the viruses places in the membrane envelope to use to attach to and enter the next host cell.
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Envelope proteins
- Hemagglutinin: binding to host cell
- Neuraminidase: release of the mature virus from the cell; facilitates infection by breaking down mucus. We use these two proteins to type viruses:
- ex. H1N1
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Enzymes within the capsid
Certain enzymes are kept within the capsid, along with the nucleic acid. These enzymes are used for the replication of the viral genome (esp. for RNA viruses). smaller genomes, so don’t make a lot of proteins
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How can we classify viruses?
Capsid shape
Envelope or no
Size
Genome composition
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Genome diversity
Nucleic Acid
Shape
Strandedness
Sense
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Genome diversity: nucleic acid
DNA
RNA
Both DNA and RNA
RNA is more mutable, so can mutate faster
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Viral genome diversity: shape
Linear
Circular
Segmented–multiple pieces, more complex when reproducing