lecture 31 - viruses Flashcards
Are viruses cellular or acellular organisms?
Acellular
Why can’t viruses survive without a host?
They have no metabolic abilities of their own and rely on the bio synthetic machinery of infected cells to multiply
What is an obligate intracellular parasite?
An organism, such as a virus, that rely on a suitable host to complete their life cycle.
What are the 2 essential components of a virus?
Genetic material, capsid
What is a feature of viruses that only certain types have?
An envelope of lipids that surrounds the protein coat/capsid
What is a viral capsid?
A protein coat that surrounds, and protects the genetic material of, a virus.
What are viral capsids composed of?
Multiple units of protein building blocks called. capsomers that form a precise pattern around the virus’s nucleic acid.
What are 3 types of capsid symmetry?
Helical, icosahedral, complex
What is the structure of a helical virus?
Capsomeres coil around the nucleic acid into a tightly bound helix that resembles a tube.
What is the structure of an icosahedral virus?
The capsid is an icosahedral shape - a 20 faced polygon made up of equilateral triangles
What is the structure of a complex virus?
Contains components with different symmetries - e.g. an icosahedral head with helical tails.
How is the viral genome stored?
Nucleic acid - DNA or RNA - contained within the viral capsid
Do viruses have DNA or RNA?
Both or either
What are the possible structures of the DNA and RNA found in viruses?
Linear, circular, segmented
Is DNA and RNA double or single stranded in viruses?
Both ds and ss RNA and DNA are found in viruses.
What type of virus infects a host via the lytic cycle?
Bacteriophages