Intro to Viruses

Question 1

Baltimore classification

Answer 1

I - dsDNA
II - ssDNA
III - dsRNA
IV - (+)ssRNA
V - (-)ssRNA
VI - ssRNA-RT
VII- dsDNA-RT

Question 2

Viral replication requires

Answer 2

Gaining entry to a host cell
Replicating proteins
Replicating nucleic acids
Packaging proteins & nucleic acids into virions
Exiting the cell

Question 3

Mechanism acyclovir

Answer 3

It is a nucleoside analog, structurally similar to guanosine. It is a pro-drug, and must be phosphorylated by viral thymidine kinase (TK) to be an active nucleotide analog and inhibitor of viral replication.

Question 4

Viral oncogenes act at

Answer 4

The G1 –> S phase checkpoint
The regulation of cell death by apoptosis
The ‘immunological synapse’

Question 5

cell’s normal apoptosis machinery

Answer 5

When Bid makes a complex with Bax at the mitochondrial membrane, it forms a pore that allow cytochrome C release to the cytoplasm, where it activates caspases and causes apoptotic cell death.

The Bcl-2/Bid complex does not allow cytochrome C release, and is antiapoptotic.