Hepatitis Viruses Flashcards
Chronic Hepatitis viruses are those which are
Parenterally transmitted
Acute Hepatitis infections are those which are?
Enterically transmitted
Hepatitis A general char
enterically transmitted (acute)
Hep B general?
parenterally transmitted
Hep C general?
Parenterally trans
Hep D general?
Dependent on co-infection with B
Hep E general?
Enterically transmitted
Hep G generall?
Parenterally transmitted
Hepatits A morphology
ss RNA, positive sense, Icosahedral capsid (no envelope…makes sense because an enveloped virus wouldn’t survive in the GI)
How many serotypes of Hepatits A are there and what implication does this have on the vaccine?
One serotype. Means its easy to make a vaccine
Reservoir for Hep A?
Humans
HAV spreads via which route?
Fecal- oral
Where does HAV replicate?
GI tract…incubation period here is about 15-30 days
Where does the virus spread?
LIVER (duh), spleen, kidney
Remember, the virus sheds in the GI tract during the asymptomatic incubation period. This is the period of time where it is spread most easily becase the pt doesn;t know they have it.
Once virus shedding is over, the pt is not infectious
What symptoms shows up once shedding stops
jaundice
Presentation of HAV pt?
Jaundice with high liver enzymes
DX of HAV
Isolated from the pts feces. Do an ELISA for anti-HAV IgM
At risk populations
Day Care Workers
Dudes (gay)
Diners (salad bar eaters especially)
Drug-users
What is a Hepatitis B virion called?
Dane Particle
What is the DNA structure of the HBV?
Partially dsDNA (one fill length circular DNA strand with another partial strand inside it).
What are the 5 major proteins encoded by the HBV genome?
- DNA polymerase with Reverse Transcriptase capability
- HBsAG (Hep B surface Antigen) this thing is an attachment protein found mostly in 20nm particles and filaments
- HBcAG: core antigen, capsid protein
- HBeAG: Secreted form of HBcAG ( important for diagnosis)
- x antigen: Influences gene expression
What is the significance of the HBsAG in regards to our immune response?
There are trillions of these things (they outnumber the actual virus particles by a long shot) but our immunoglobulins recognize the HBsAG which means that we have a huge immune reaction to the surface antigen fillaments and less of a reaction to the actual virions. They act as a smokescreen of sorts. Allows for infection to become chronic
What is one of teh first thing that happens to the HBV once it enters the cell and uncoats?
Completes the synthesis of the second DNA strand to produce a fully double stranded DNA genome
- Then gets supercoiled—-> enters nucleus
- Transcribes mRNAs to code for the four proteins
and one full length copy of the genome in RNA form. Need to get this back to a double stranded DNA structure, this is where the Reverse transcriptase comes in. - Once RT converts the RNA to DNA, the viral polymerase begins synthesizing the second DNA strand. Doesn’t finish it though.
- Gets packaged into a core structure
- Buds through the ER (picks up an envelope)
HBV is in a sense the exact opposite of HIV
ok…HIV is an RNA virus with a double stranded DNA intermediate
HBV endemic where?
China and Sub-Saharan Africa where infection occurs earlier, not necessarily more
HBV enters how?
Parenterally (not through the mouth) Mostly sexually transmitted
HBV replicates where?
Liver
HBV incubation?
45-160 days….way longer than HAV
Serological markers of HBV
HBsAG surface marker and HBeAG