Family: Poxviridae Flashcards
What are the 2 subfamilies of Poxviridae?
- Chordopoxviridae - Avipoxvirus, Capripoxvirus, Leporipoxvirus, Orthopoxvirus, Parapoxvirus, Suispoxvirus, Yatapoxvirus,
- Entomopoxviridae - Alpha/Beta/Gammaentomopoxvirus
Who was Edward Jenner?
pioneer in the field of vaccinology who discovered the concept of a smallpox vaccine by identifying the link between cowpox nodules on the udder of cattle and the milker’s nodules
What are the 3 first novel criteria of small poxvirus?
- first disease to be irradicated
- first virus to have some effective antiviral therapy
- first vaccine developed
What is the most complex family of viruses that infect various species of vertebrate?
Poxviridae
Where on the embryonated chicken egg does Poxviridae grow? How do they affect the egg?
chorioallantoic membrane
produce pock lesions
Where in the cell does poxvirus multiply? What organ does it prefer to replicate in?
replicate in the cytoplasm and produce intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies
epidermis
What are the 2 species of smallpox? What is the earliest evidence of existence of smallpox?
(no animal reservoir)
1. Variola major (20% mortality)
2. Variola minor (1-2% mortality)
Egyptian mummies - Ramses V
What type of genome does Poxviridae have? What is the overall structure of the virus?
among one of the largest dsDNA, linear viruses
brick shaped, with a complex symmetry consisting of a core and 2 lateral bodies
In what kind of solution do members of Poxviridae tend to aggregate?
high salt solutions
What do members of Poxviridae tend to be resistant to? Sensitive to?
trypsin
ether
common detergents, formaldehyde, and oxidizing agents
In what conditions is Poxviridae most stable in? What temperature is it most sensitive to?
dry conditions at room temperature
temperatures greater than 40 C
Does lyophilization affect the infectivity of Poxviridae?
no
Poxviruses infecting humans are all zoonotic except what 2 viruses?
- molluscum contagiosum virus (MOCV)
- orthopoxvirus variola virus (VARV) - the etioloigc agent of smallpox
What plays a major role in the clearance of vertebrate Poxvirus infections?
neutralizing antibodies and cell-mediated immunity
(reinfection rates are generally low and less severe)
How does previous infection with small poxvirus affect the immune system?
those previously infected are generally immune to the disease for the rest of their lives
What is the pathogenesis of Poxvirus?
- infection starts through inhalation of the small poxvirus in the upper respiratory tract, where it is able to multiply, and the virus disseminates through the lymphatic and cell-associated viremic spread
- hemorrhage of small vessels in the dermis leads to rash and “pox”
What are the Poxvirus infection stages of lesion development?
- exposure
- 12 days average incubation period
- 2-4 days of prodrome (early signs of infection)
- macules —> papules —> vesicles —> pustules —> scabs
What is the genome structure and organization of Poxviridae?
single molecule of linear dsDNA about 130-300 kb
(encodes 200 proteins, 100 of which are contained in virions)
What makes Poxviridae different compared to other DNA viruses?
replicates in the cytoplasm
(most DNA viruses replicate in the nucleus)
What are the 5 steps of the Poxvirus infection cycle?
- entry and release of core
- early mRNA synthesis products are released from core, which causes cell proliferation and local immune suppression
- DNA is synthesized for packaging and as a template for intermediate gene expression (transcription specificity factors for late gene expression)
- transcription and translation of late, structural protein genes, assembly of particles at Golgi, and release on cell lysis or infection of adjoining cells
- Poxvirus release by exocytosis
What is the mechanism behind Poxvirus release by exocytosis?
immature virion (IV) is formed from the Golgi and matures to form an infectious intracellular mature virion (IMV), which acquires another membrane to form an intracellular enveloped virion (IEV) that can be transported to and fuse with the plasma membrane
What is characteristic of the orthopoxvirus cow poxvirus infection?
papular, pustular, and crusty exudative lesions on the udder and adjacent areas of the skin
How does cowpox virus spread through herds? What can serve as a reservoir?
milking of each cow with improper sanitization
rodents —> contagious to humans, cats, and other species
What is the most important of all pox diseases of domestic animals? Why?
capripoxvirus, affecting sheep and goats of all ages
high mortality in young animals and significant economic loss caused by a decrease in milk production and damage to the quality of hides and wool