Human Disease: Viruses & Prions 1 Flashcards
List the general characteristics of viruses.
- Obligatory intracellular parasites
- contain DNA or RNA
- contain a protein coat
- some are enclosed by an envelope
- some viruses have spikes
- most viruses infect only specific types of cells in one host
- Host range is determined by specific host attachment sites and cellular factors
Viruses are classified by morphology. What are the classes?
- Helical viruses
- Polyhedral viruses
- Enveloped viruses
- Complex viruses
Give two examples of a helical virus.
- Rabies
- Ebola hemorrhagic fever
long rods, helical structure
Give two examples of a polyhedral virus.
- adenovirus
- poliovirus
polyhedral = many sided, 20 triangular faces
Give two examples of a enveloped virus.
- influenza virus
- herpes simplex virus
roughly spherical, unless otherwise noted
Give an example of a complex virus.
- bacteriophage
- poxvirus
capsid does not enter the cell like it does in eukaryotic enveloped viruses
What are the steps in multiplication of an animal virus?
> Attachment - viruses attach to cell membrane.
- pinocytosis - fusion
> Penetration/Entry - endocytosis or fusion.
> Uncoating - viral or host enzymes.
> Biosynthesis - production of nucleic acid and proteins.
> Maturation - nucleic acid and capsid proteins assemble.
> Release - by budding (enveloped viruses) or rupture.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of ssDNA viruses?
Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of dsDNA viruses?
- Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus.
- Viral enzyme transcribes viral DNA in virion, in cytoplasm.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of DNA, reverse transcriptase, viruses?
Cellular enzyme transcribes viral DNA in nucleus; reverse transcriptase copies mRNA to make viral DNA.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of RNA, + strand, viruses?
Viral RNA functions as a template for synthesis of RNA polymerase which copies negative strand RNA to make mRNA in cytoplasm.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of RNA, negative strand, viruses?
Viral enzyme copies viral RNA to make mRNA in cytoplasm.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of dsRNA viruses?
Viral enzyme copies - strand RNA to make mRNA in cytoplasm.
What are the special features of biosynthesis of RNA ,reverse transcriptase, viruses?
Viral enzyme copies viral RNA to make DNA in cytoplasm; DNA moves to nucleus.
Latent and Persistent Viral Infections
> Virus remains in asymptomatic host cell for long periods.
- cold sores, shingles
> Disease process occurs over a long period; generally is fatal.
- subacute sclerosing panencephalitis (measles virus)
persistent infection does not drop off
What are the characteristics that viruses are classified on?
- nucleic acid type
- presence or absence of envelope
- capsid symmetry
- dimensions of virion and capsid
NOT classified on morphology
What is the alternative classification scheme for viruses?
> David Baltimore
- focuses on viral genome and process used to synthesize viral mRNA
- 7 life cycle groups based on:
- dsDNA
- ssDNA
- dsRNA
- ssRNA (+ or - strand)
- retrovirus
What family is the RNA virus that causes HIV in?
retroviridae
- Pandemic with uncertain origin.
- HIV-1 evolved from chimp virus SIVcpz
- Only group M HIV-1 is widespread in U.S.
- HIV-2 is widespread in Africa.
What is the transmission of HIV?
When infected blood, semen, or vaginal secretions come in contact with uninfected person’s broken skin or mucous membranes.
What is the life cycle of HIV?
> Virion has viral protein spike, gp120.
- attaches to CD4 cells (T helper cells and other cells) and co-receptors CCR5 and CXCR-4.
> RNA virus carries reverse transcriptase into host cell.
> Reverse transcribed into dsDNA, which integrates into human genome as provirus.
> Integrates into host cell’s DNA as a provirus.
> Can remain latent - asymptomatic.
> Can direct synthesis of viral RNA -> synthesis of new viral particles.
- new virion are assembled and released through budding and eventual lysis.
What is the course of disease - HIV to AIDS?
> Some patients rapidly develop clinical AIDS; die within 2-3 years.
> Some patients remain relatively healthy for at least 10 years post infection.
> In majority of patients HIV infection progresses to AIDS in 8-10 years.
> T helper cell count reduces and opportunistic infections begin.
patients that are long term persistent with HIV have Abs that recognize HIV better than patients that die quickly. Typically, patients with HIV have a problem because the HIV can invade the Abs that have been made by the humoral immune system against HIV virus
What are the CDC classification system for stages of acute, HIV-related conditions?
> 2-8 weeks after infection.
Most experience brief illness called acute retroviral syndrome.
Rapid multiplication and dissemination of virus throughout body.
Stimulation of immune response.
What are the CDC classification system for stages of asymptomatic (latent), HIV-related conditions?
> May last from 6 months to 10 or more years.
Levels of detectable HIV in blood decrease, although viral replication continues.
Effects on immune functions may occur.
What are the CDC classification system for stages of chronic symptomatic, HIV-related conditions?
> Formerly called AIDS-related complex.
Can last for months to years.
Viral replication continues.
Numbers of CD4 cells in blood significantly decrease.
- results in patients developing a variety of illnesses often caused by opportunistic pathogens and AIDS related cancers.
What are the CDC classification system for stages of AIDS (fourth and last stage), HIV-related conditions?
> Immune system no longer able to defend against virus.
What is the definition of AIDS?
All HIV-infected individuals who have fewer than 200 CD4 T cells/microliter of blood or a CD4 cell percentage of lymphocytes of less than 14.
What are the central nervous system diseases that can be caused by HIV?
> Headaches, fever, subtle cognitive changes, abnormal reflexes, and ataxia.
> Dementia and severe sensory and motor changes observed in advanced cases.
> Autoimmune neuropathies, cerebrovascular disease, and brain tumors are common.
How is HIV diagnosed?
> viral isolation and culture
> assays for reverse transcriptase activity or viral antigens
> most commonly done by detection of specific anti-HIV Abs in the blood
- routine screening tests use ELISA assays which have many flase positive results which are retested using Western blot technique
> most sensitive test uses polymerase chain reaction
What is the treatment for AIDS?
> No cure for AIDS
Treatment directed at reducing viral load, disease symptoms, and treating disease and malignancies.
Most successful treatment involves a combination.
- nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., AZT)
- nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (e.g., delavirdine)
- protease inhibitors (e.g., indinavir)
- fusion inhibitors (Fls) - prevent entry of HIV into cells, (e.g., enfuvirtide)
What is the prevention and control of HIV?
> Achieved primarily through education.
> Barrier protection from blood and body fluids.
> Not sharing intravenous needs or syringes.
> Continued screening of blood and blood products.
What is the current research for HIV vaccines?
> Not available but ongoing research.
> Ideal vaccine.
- would stimulate the production of neutralizing Abs which would bind to virus preventing it from entering host cells
- promote formation of cytotoxic T cells capable of destroying cells infected with virus
> Problems with development of vaccine.
- envelope proteins of virus continually change their antigenic properties
What has the study of long-term nonprogressors of HIV patients found?
> HIV-infected people who:
- maintain CD+ T cell counts of at least 600 cells/ul of blood.
- have 10 years after documented infection.
> Explanations of phenomena:
- effective immune response to relatively conserved proteins.
- initial infection was with attenuated strain.
- predisposing genetic differences.
What are the characteristics of dsDNA viruses?
> Largest group of known viruses.
> Most bacteriophages have dsDNA.
> Important vertebrate viruses:
- herpesviruses - poxviruses
> Insect viruses.
> Some rely on host’s DNA/RNA polymerases.
What are the herpesviridae subfamilies?
- alpha
- beta
- gamma
- unclassified subfamilies
Which viruses are in the Herpesviridae subfamily, alpha?
> herpes simplex virus I and II
> varicella zoster virus (HSV-3) - chicken pox and shingles.
Which viruses are in the Herpesviridae subfamily, beta?
cytomegalovirus (HSV-5)