Intro to viral infections Flashcards
What is a virus (4)
means poison or toxin
very small infectious agent
cant grow or reproduce outside host
but can survive in envrionment
2 essential viral structures:
nucleic acid
capsid
optional viral structures (3)
envelope
surface structures
enzymes
primary criteria for classifying viruses
which nuclei acid
single or double stranded
presence of envelope
secondary criteria for viruses
host affected
capsid shape
where do viruses come from (3)
mutation from other virsues
sudden spread from isolated populations (AIDS)
from animals
5 viruses that emerged from animal resevoirs
AIDS ebola west nile virus schmallenburg virus influenza
3 ways viral infections spread
ingestion
inhalation
inoculation
Tropism is when a virus….
exhibits a preference for particular cells
the aim of anti-infective drugs is to exploit the relationship between
host and infective agent
nucleoside analogues become incorporated into
growing viral nucleic acid and terminate elongation
Anti-retroviral drugs dont cure diseases but…
slow progression
diagnosis of viral infections (5)
cultural methods immunological methods antigen detection electron microscopy molecular methods
influenza virus: single/double stranded
enveloped or not
family
single
enveloped
orthomyxoviridae
The flu: transmitted by, symptoms, recovery period, incubation period, contagious when,
aerosols fever, headache, dry cough, sore throat 7-10 days 2 days 3-5 days
