L26: Biotech: Gain of Function

Question 1

Define: Gain of function technology

Answer 1

A form of genetic manipulation on microorganisms

Question 1

What is a spike protein?

Answer 1

A protein on the surface of certain viruses (covid, sars-cov-2). It’s called spike because it has spikes and binds to receptors on human cells which allows it to enter and infect them.

Question 2

What is adenovirus?

Answer 2

Viruses without an envelope.
Can deliver genetic information into cells.
Used as vectors (used as a vehicle to carry DNA section into a host cell).

Question 3

What is the mechanism of action for a spike protein on SARS-CoV-2?

Answer 3

S1 recognises and binds to host receptors, and subsequent conformational changes in S2 facilitate fusion between the viral envelope and the host cell membrane.

Question 4

A spike protein is….

Answer 4

A protein on the surface of certain viruses (covid, sars-cov-2). It’s called spike because it has spikes and binds to receptors on human cells which allows it to enter and infect them.

Question 5

What is a genetically modified virus?

Answer 5

A virus that has been altered or generated using biotech methods and remains capable of infection.

Question 6

What is recombination?

Answer 6

Breaking and rejoining DNA to create new combinations of genetic information.

Question 7

Define: wild type

Answer 7

Naturally occurring, most common form of a virus.

Question 8

What are the advantages of using a wild type virus?

Answer 8

Used as a control.

Question 9

Describe: Influenza

Answer 9

A respiratory illness
highly infectious

Question 10

What is the mechanism of influenze?

Answer 10

Infects the epithelial cells
causes lung inflammation.

Question 11

Why does influenza kill so many people?

Answer 11

Flu can progress to pneumonia and COPD or congestive heard failure.

Question 12

Define: Reverse transcriptase

Answer 12

The conversation of viral RNA to DNA.

Question 13

What is the mechanism of reserve transcriptase?

Answer 13

Starts with viral RNA
RT binds to Viral RNA
Synthesises a complimentary DNA
Adds nucleotides to growing DNA strand
Results in a single stranded DNA molecule.
DNA molecule used to synthesise a complementary DNA strand,
Resulting dsDNA becomes permanent part of calls genetic material.

Question 14

A form of genetic manipulation on microorganisms

Answer 14

Gain of function

Question 15

Define: Genetically Modified virus

Answer 15

A virus that has been changed intentionally or by using genetic engineering techniques so it can do what we want

Question 16

What is alpha 2-6 (human)

Answer 16

Linking of sugar molecules from Carbon 2 and the Carbon 6 of glycoproteins and glycolipids

Question 17

what is alpha 2-3 (Avian)

Question 18

What is HPAI H5N1

Answer 18

Its avian influenza virus that can sometimes infect humans - causes Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome.

Question 19

Define: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrom (ARDS)

Answer 19

Sever lung infection caused by inflammation and fluid build up in air sacs.

Question 20

Why are ferrets used to study influenza?

Answer 20

They have the same sialic acid residues to humans.
The sialic acid distribution in their lungs and nasal passages are smilar.
Similar airborne transmission.

Question 21

Define: Mutations

Answer 21

Change or atleration in genetic material

Question 22

What is a mutation?

Answer 22

Change in the DN sequence of an organism

Question 23

What is sequencing?

Answer 23

Determining the exact order of nucleotides or bases in a DNA molecule.

Question 24

Define: point mutations

Answer 24

Genetic mutations where a single nucleotide base is changed, inserted, or deleted from a DNA or RNA sequence in an organisms genome - ie sickle cell disease.

Question 25

Teach a friend about point mutations.

Answer 25

Genetic mutations where a single nucleotide base is changed, inserted, or deleted from a DNA or RNA sequence in an organisms genome - ie sickle cell disease.

Question 26

What is a membrane protein?

Answer 26

A protein associated or attached to the membrane of a cell or an organelle inside a cell. Ie spike protein

Question 27

Define: Transposon

Answer 27

Class of genetic elements that can “jump” to different locations with a genome. Hence “jumping genes”

Question 28

What is a viral envelop?

Answer 28

The outermost later of many types of viruses.

Question 29

A form of genetic manipulation on microorganisms

Answer 29

Gain of function

Question 30

A protein on the surface of certain viruses (covid, sars-cov-2). It’s called _____ because it has spikes and binds to receptors on human cells which allows it to enter and infect them.

Answer 30

Spike Protein

Question 31

A group of DNA viruses first found in adenoid tissue, most of which cause respiratory diseases.

Answer 31

Adenovirus

Question 32

Naturally occurring, most common form of a virus.

Answer 32

WIld Type

Question 33

Breaking and rejoining DNA to create new combinations of genetic information.

Answer 33

DNA recombination

Question 34

The conversation of viral RNA to DNA.

Answer 34

Reverse transcriptase

Question 35

Name the process:
Starts with viral RNA
RT binds to Viral RNA
Synthesises a complimentary DNA
Adds nucleotides to growing DNA strand
Results in a single stranded DNA molecule.
DNA molecule used to synthesise a complementary DNA strand,
Resulting dsDNA becomes permanent part of calls genetic material.

Answer 35

Reverse transcriptase.

Question 36

Sever lung infection caused by inflammation and fluid build up in air sacs.

Answer 36

ARDS - Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome

Question 37

Genetic mutations where a single nucleotide base is changed, inserted, or deleted from a DNA or RNA sequence in an organisms genome - ie sickle cell disease.

Answer 37

Point mutation