Microbiology Flashcards
Virus
obligate intracellular parasite that replicates by self assembly of components
Segmented genome
effectively like several chromosomes in one virion
capsid
protein shell that virus genomes are packaged in
Types of capsids
helical
icosahedral (spherical)
complex
capsomeres
self assembles into a capsid
determines the shape of the capsid
lots of repeating units because of limited genome
nucleocapsid
genome + capsid
lipid envelope
derived from cellular membranes
Factors affecting stability of enveloped viruses
less stable than naked viruses
- more susceptible to drying
- can’t survive as fomites
- sensitive to detergents and alcohols
- cannot survive GI tract
- reside in blood and respiratory tract
Virally-encoded glycoproteins
inserted into the cell membrane and serve as virus attachment proteins and membrane fusion proteins
(enveloped viruses)
Virion for naked virus
nucleocapsid
Virion for enveloped virus
nucleocapsid + membrane
Spread of enveloped viruses
spread in large droplets, secretions, organ transplants, and blood transfusions
concerted assembly
cover up genome with nucleocapsid as the genome is being made
procaspid
proteins sequential self assembly without the virus genome inside, then the genome gets stuffed in
favored by DNA virus
Benefits of enveloped virus
- avoid immune system
- have same siliac acid and are partially camouflaged by host carbohydrates
viral entry into host cell: naked virus
- endocytosis
- - pH dependent from endosomes into cytoplasm
viral entry into host cell: enveloped virus
membrane fusion
Major steps in viral replication
- attachment
- penetration
- uncoating
- early transcription
- genome replication
- late transcription
- assembly
- release
early transcription
RNA vs. DNA viruses
synthesis of nonstructural proteins
RNA: virally encoded RNA-dependent RNA pol
DNA: use host DNA-dependent RNA pol
location of genome replication
RNA: cytoplasm
DNA: nuclear (except poxvirus)
late transcription
synthesis of structural proteins
assembly location
RNA: cytoplasmic
DNA: nuclear (except poxvirus and hepadnavirus)
Release of virus particles
- cell lysis
- budding (enveloped)
viral cytopathogenesis
- inhibition of cellular protein synthesis
- inhibition and degradation of cellular DNA
- alteration of cell membrane structure
- disruption of cytoskeleton
- formation of inclusion bodies
- DNA: nucleus
- RNA: cytoplasm - toxicity of virion components
+RNA virus genome
Functions as mRNA and is immediately translated by cellular ribosomes
- translated as a polyprotein that must be cleaved into individual proteins
- makes RNA-dependent RNA pol protein
- - transcribe -RNA from +RNA
- - -RNA used as template to make lots of +RNA - +RNA copies are used as mRNA
- - make structural proteins
- - encapsidated to produce nucleocapsids
-RNA virus genome
CanNOT be used as mRNA and is used as a template to transcribe +RNA (mRNA)
- carries RNA-dependent RNA pol
- - transcribe -RNA to +RNA - +RNA
- - translated into individual proteins (including more RNA pol; does NOT make polyprotein)
- - template for more -RNA - new -RNA is encapsidated to produce nucleocapsids
Retrovirus
- carries RNA-dependent DNA pol (reverse transcriptase)
- +RNA is reverse transcribed into dsDNA and integrated into host genome
- host enzymes (DNA-dependent RNA pol) produce proteins and +RNA genome
Reverse transcriptase mechanism
- make a DNA strand (with the RNA strand)
- get rid of RNA strand
- make second DNA strand
DNA virus genome
transcribed by host DNA-dependent RNA pol
- many viruses have a host shut-off mechanism that degrades host mRNA
- many viruses use specific transcription factors that redirect host polymerases to viral genes and away from cellular genes
- replication dependent on DNA-dependent DNA pol
- - large virus: virally encoded
- - small virus: host encoded - newly produced DNA genomes are encapsidated to produce nucleocapsids
Why do we have antivirals that can target herpes but not HPV?
herpes: evolved to have own DNA pol giving unique targets
HPV: small and has to use host DNA pol; no unique targets
Viral RNA pol lacks efficient proof reading function, unlike DNA pol (host or viral). What are the consequences?
Can have antigenic variation
- most mutations are detrimental
- more drug resistance (need combo therapy)
- RNA viruses keep the genome small to reduce lethal mutations to virus
- DNA pol is more fit: can have a larger genome
plaque
hole in a confluent monolayer of cells due to viral lysis
lysate
suspension of virions in culture medium that results from unrestricted growth of the virus on a cell monolayer
particle-to-pfu ratio
number of physical particles compared to the number of infectious virions
plaque assay
measure the number of infectious virions in a given volume of lysate
- titer = pfu/ml of lysate
- determines infectivity