Lecture 10 - Properties of Viruses Flashcards
What is a virus? What to note?
Acellular organism with nucleic acid genome that enters a living host and replicates using host biosynthetic machinery
NOTE” “virus” refers to the entire biology and is not limited to the virus particle
3 key characteristics of viruses? What to note?
- No metabolism (they cannot produce energy)
- No protein synthesis machinery
- Replication involves de novo assembly of new infectious particles that transport the viral genetic material to another host cell or organism
NOTE: 1 + 2 = cells that they infect must be living, so dead cells on our skin are a barrier to viruses
Other name for virus particle?
Virion
What is a virus particle?
An infectious package of genetic material
Describe the genome of a virus particle.
- RNA or DNA
- Multiple topologies: single stranded, double stranded, linear, circular, segmented
- Characteristics are specific for each virus type (e.g. all influenza viruses have segmented single stranded RNA genomes)
How do RNA viruses replicate their genome? What to note?
They use a virally encoded RNA-dependent polymerase (therapeutic target, e.g. Hep C drugs)
Which mutate more rapidly: RNA or DNA viruses? Why?
Implications?
RNA viruses because RNA polymerase does note have proof-reading activity
Implications:
- Limits genome size
- Better immune avoidance
- Better drug-resistance
- Cross-species infection due to better adaptation capability
What are 7 examples of DNA viruses?
- Herpes viruses (HSV-1,2, Varicella, KSHV)
- Adenoviruses
- Parvoviruses (B19)
- Hepatitis B virus
- Papilloma viruses (HPV-16,18…)
- Polyomaviruses (BK, JC)
- Molluscum contagiosum
What are 7 examples of RNA viruses?
- HIV
- Rhinoviruses
- Norovirus
- Measles
- Respiratory syncytial virus
- Influenza
- Hepatitis C virus
Example of DNA virus with small genome?
HPV
2 roles of the shell of a virus particle?
- Protects the genome
2. Delivers the genome to new cells
2 types of virus particle shells? Examples for each?
- “Naked” capsid with icosahedral nucleocapsid = protein only (e.g. rhinovirus, enteroviruses, polyo, D68, hepatitis A, norovirus, coxsackie virus, papillomaviruses, adenoviruses, parvoviruses)
- Enveloped = lipid membrane derived from the host + protein (e.g. influenza, measles, flaviviruses: hepatitis C, dengue, HIV, zika, etc.)
2 properties of viruses with a naked capsid? 6 consequences?
- Environmentally stable
- Released from the cell by lysis in most cases
Consequences
- Easily transmitted (fomites, from hand to hand, surfaces, dust, small droplets)
- Can retain infectivity even after drying out
- Many can survive the adverse conditions of the gut
- Resistant to detergents and poor sewage treatment
- Most kill the infected cell to release progeny
- Antibody may be sufficient for immunoprotection since the virus particles kill infected cells anyways
2 properties of viruses with an envelop? 4 consequences?
- Environmentally labile: disrupted by detergents, drying, heat
- Released from the cell by budding or cell lysis and some can spread directly from cell to cell
Consequences
- Must stay wet or else the membrane will dry out and lose its shape and will not longer be infectious
- Spread in large droplets, secretions, organ transplants, blood transfusions
- Do not need to kill the cell to spread (chronic infection)
- Some require cell-mediated immune responses for protection and control
2 types of enveloped virus particles? Examples for each?
- With icosahedral nucleocapsid (e.g. hep C, Zika, HIV, and herpes)
- With helical nucleocapsid (e.g. measles, respiratory syncytial virus, rabies, coronaviruses, influenza) => RNA/DNA bound to proteins
Difference between capsid and nucleocapsid?
Capsid = the viral protein that directly encases the genome
Nucleocapsid = the capsid + the genome
Which type of enveloped virus particles is more typical for RNA viruses?
Helical nucleocapsid
How to classify viruses?
- Virion morphology (i.e. shape, size, type of shell)
- Genome composition
- Genetic similarity (i.e. replication mechanisms)
- Type of Disease (e.g. hepatitis viruses)
Examples of viruses that are very similar genetically, but not in terms of diseases?
- Picornaviridae: rhinovirus, polio, coxsackie, hep A
2. Flaviridae: HCV (not transmitted by mosquitos), West Nile, dengue, Zika
How many DNA virus families infect humans?
8
How many RNA virus families infect humans?
17
What do viruses within the same family share?
- Similar morphology
- Similar gene organization
- Genetic relatedness can affect:
- Laboratory diagnosis
- Course of infection
What are the 6 steps of viral pathogenesis?
- Attachment and entry
- Virus replication in infected cells
- Spread through body
- Host responses to infection: innate and adaptive
- Effects on host cells due to virus and host response
- Exit
What is responsible for symptoms when the virus does not kill infected cells?
Body’s response to the virus
What does attachment of the virus involve? What to note?
Involves an interaction between a protein on the surface of the virus and a “receptor” on the surface of a target cell
NOTE: host cell receptor is a critical determinant of cell (and species) specificity => major determinant of the type of disease caused
2 ways a virus spreads in an infected individual? Describe each.
- Local: replication occurs near where the virus entered the body (e.g. many viruses that cause upper respiratory infections; papillomaviruses)
- Systemic: transit from the entry point to infect target cells/tissues