Chapter 6 - The Search for the Elusive Virus Flashcards
Who postulated that rabies was caused by a virus (1884)
Louis Pasteur
Who showed a disease in tobacco was caused by a virus (1890s)
Ivanovski and Beijerinck
1950s ________ was a multifaceted discipline
Virology
Noncellular particles with a definite size, shape, and chemical composition
Viruses
There is no universal agreement on how and when _______ originated
Viruses
Viruses are considered the ____ ________ microbes on earth
Most abundant
Viruses played a role in _________of Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya
Evolution
Viruses are ________ ____________ parasites
Obligate intracellular
Most viruses are less than _____
0.2 μm
Viruses require an ________ __________ to see
Electron microscope
Viruses bear no resemblance to _____
Cells
Viruses lack _______ ____________ machinery
Protein-synthesizing
Viruses contain only the parts needed to ______ and _______ a host cell
Invade and control
All viruses have _______
Capsids
Protein coats that enclose and protect their nucleic acid
Capsids
The capsid together with the nucleic acid is the:
Nucleocapsid
Some viruses have an external covering called the:
Envelope
Those lacking an envelope are
Naked
Each capsid is constructed from identical subunits called:
Capsomers
What are capsomers made of?
Protein
What are the two structural types of viruses?
- Helical
2. Icosahedral
Continuous helix of capsomers forming a cylindrical nucleocapsid
Helical
- 20-sided with 12 corners
- Vary in the number of capsomers
- Each capsomer may be made of 1 or several proteins
- Some are enveloped
Icosahedral
- Mostly animal viruses
- Acquired when the virus leaves the host cell
- Exposed proteins on the outside of the envelope, called spikes, essential for attachment of the virus to the host cell
Viral envelope
- Protects the nucleic acid when the virus is outside the host cell
- Helps the virus to bind to a cell surface and assists the penetration of the viral DNA or RNA into a suitable host cell
Capsid/Envelope
Complex viruses
Atypical viruses
- Poxviruses lack a typical capsid and are covered by a dense layer of lipoproteins
- Some bacteriophages have a polyhedral nucleocapsid along with a helical tail and attachment fibers
Complex viruses: atypical viruses
Either DNA or RNA but never both
Viral genome
Carries genes necessary to invade host cell and redirect cell’s activity to make new viruses
Nucleic Acids
Number of genes varies for each type of virus - ___ to ________
Few to hundreds
__________ enzymes may be present
Pre-formed
DNA or RNA
Polymerases
Copy RNA
Replicases