IDT219 Viral Infections

Question 1

virion

Answer 1

an entire infectious virus particle

Question 2

capsid

Answer 2

protein coat that encloses the nucleic acid material. Some capsids may be empty - an error that occurs during intracellular assembly of viral capsid proteins and genomes

Question 3

nucleocapsid

Answer 3

the virus capsid and its genome

Question 4

capsomers

Answer 4

subunits that comprise the capsid structure - give shape to the virions (complete virus particles) and can be visualized using electron microscopy

Question 5

envelope

Answer 5

a lipid bilayer that is acquired by the virion as it “buds” out from the infected eukaryotic cell - may be nuclear or cytoplasmic membrane in origin but viral glycoproteins are embedded in the lipid bilayer and extend into the external environment.

Question 6

tegument

Answer 6

the “space” between the nucleocapsid and the envelope of an enveloped virion

Question 7

what is special about viruses that survive the gastric acidity of the stomach?

Answer 7

most viruses that cause gastrointestinal infections are naked