DD 02-24-14 10-11am Viral Pathogenesis - vanDyk Flashcards
Viral disease - factors
= the cumulative effect of virus replication and the host response
Depends on…
-effects of virus replication on host cells
-host response to infection
-ability of virus to spread w/in and among hosts
Factors that influence disease induction & outcome upon virus infection include (8):
- Route of infection
- Initial site of replication
- Virus spread from initial site
- Mechanisms of virus-induced symptoms/signs of infection.
- Tropism.
- Transmission & shedding
- Host factors in susceptibility to viral disease
- Immune-mediated pathology
Routes of infection (Primary, others)
Primary initial routes of virus infection or modes of transmission are:
1. Respiratory
2. Alimentary
3. Genitourinary
All mucosal surfaces have sophisticated immune defense which most viruses must overcome, yet still the most common entry point for most viral pathogens.
Can also initiate in:
- Mucous membranes of eyes (via skin abrasions)
- Parenterally
Most viruses can initiate infection at more than one site (though most prefer certain sites).
Initial site of viral replication
Usually in epithelial cells near body surface or barriers.
Some are limited to this site, while other spread further and cause systemic infection.
Requirements for successful initial infection
- Sufficient virus
- Cells at entry site susceptible & permissive to infection
- Local host defenses absent / initially insufficient to block infection
“Sufficient virus”
Free virus particles must survive environmental exposure or limit exposure between hosts.
Virus must be abundant enough to initiate infection (concentration, virus particles can be defective)
Initial infection can be quite inefficient.
Virus spread from initial site
- Initial site of entry often dictates pattern of spread.
- To spread beyond initial site, must breach local barriers
- Cells at mucosal barriers are often polarized, leading to direction & predictable virus release
- Some cells spread hematogenously, often infecting endothelial cells or by direct inoculation into the bloodstream (e.g. insect borne viruses)
- Viruses can traffic among tissue or through blood/lymph w/in infected cells
Spread: Breaching local barriers
Necessary to spread beyond initial site,
Ex: Must first breach epithelium, then basement membranes, then tissue fluids, lymphatics, phagocytes, etc., which play a role both in clearing & trafficking of pathogens
Spread: Polarized mucosal cells
Lead to directional release of viruses from these cells, and thus predictable consequences…
EX: Viruses release on apical side are back to where they started & likely to remain local; they are well positioned for efficient transmission to new host.
EX: Viruses released on basolateral side are likely to gain access & spread to or beyond underlying tissue.
Manifestations of viral spread in skin
Virus spread is sometimes apparent in skin as rashes / lesions.
Mechanisms of virus-induced symptoms / signs of infection
Consists of…
- Direct virus effects on infected host cells (e.g. lysis of host cells)
- Effects of host immune response
Tropism (definition, examples, effect)
= a given virus is likely to infect certain tissues & not others (i.e. tissue specificity)
EX: Entertropic viruses replicate in gut
EX: Neurotropic viruses replicate in nervous system tissue
Effect: Can drive virus population variants among/within individuals, particularly in viruses with highly error prone replication systems
Tropism is determined by…
- Access to tissue in which it can replicate
- Receptors required for virus binding & entry
- Expression of host genes required for virus infection & production of new progency virus
- Relative failure of host defenses
Transmission & Shedding
= release of infectious particles from an infected host
Transmission may be within a single susceptible host, or may alternate infection of one host w/another (e.g. insect to human cycle).
Mostly horizontal transmission, but vertical (parent/child) and germ-line transmission allow the propagation in some.
Some show seasonal / geographic patterns
Local infections: site of shedding
occurs at site of initial infection