Lecture 39- Intro to viruses

Question 1

What are the size ranges for viruses?

Answer 1

20-450 nano meters

Question 2

What is a capsid?

Answer 2

the protein coat on the outside of the virus

Question 3

What is a nucleocapsid?

Answer 3

capsid and nucleic acid core together

all viruses need this

Question 4

What is an envelope?

Answer 4

consists of lipids, proteins, and carbs
act similarly to cell membrane
can have spikes

Question 5

What is a naked nucleocapsid?

Answer 5

viruses that only have a capside and nucleic acid core (no envelope)

Question 6

What is a capsomer?

Answer 6

the building blocks of the capsid (protein coat)

can be rod shaped or triangular

Question 7

What is a helical capsid?

Answer 7

shaped like a cylinder
made up of rod capsomers
characteristic of measles, rabies, flue

Question 8

What is a polygon capsid?

Answer 8

made up of triangular capsomers

characteristic of AIDS and herpes

Question 9

What is the function of the capsid?

Answer 9

provides protection

Question 10

What is the function of the envelope?

Answer 10

provides extra protection

Question 11

What is a complex virus?

Answer 11

made up of both triangles and rod shaped capsomers

Question 12

What is a bacteriophage?

Answer 12

a virus that infects bacteria

complex shaped- has a polygon head, helical tail, and fibers (that look like spider legs)

Question 13

What type of nucleic acid do viruses contain?

Answer 13

either DNA or RNA (never both)

can be single stranded or double stranded

Question 14

How are viruses classified? (4)

Answer 14

type of nucleic acid
presence of envelope
shape
size