Microbiology Flashcards
virus
tiny infectious agents
obligate intracellular parasite
able (obligated) to reproduce within (intra) cells. an example is a virus
are viruses cells or living organisms?
NO
what can a viral genome consist of?
DNA or RNA, single or double stranded, circular or linear
for any type of virus, how many nucleic acids can it’s genome carry?
only one type present in mature genomes, and only one type of nucleic acid as its genome
bacteriophage
a virus that infects bacteria
what is the limiting factor of all viral genomes, regardless of the form of nucleic acid used as a genome?
size
why is size the limiting factor for viruses?
the exterior protein shell is typically a rigid and fixed structure that cannot expand
what is an adaptation for the small size of viral genomes?
each genome can encode more than one protein in a given length by utilizing multiple reading frames
capsid
protein coat surrounding the viral nucleic acid gnome
helical capsids
rod shaped
polyhedral capsids
multiple-sided geometric figure
envelope
membrane on the exterior of the virus that surrounds the capsid, is derived from the membrane of the host cell
budding
the process through which viruses can acquire an envelope through the host cell membrane
naked viruses
viruses which do not have envelopes
which viruses are always naked?
all phages and plant viruses
attachment/adsorption
first step: virus binds to exterior of a bacterial cell
penetration/eclipse
second step: injection of the viral genome into the host cell, capsid remains on the outer surface while genome disappears into the cell, removing infectious virus from the media
what happens to the phage once the viral genome is injected into the host?
it can either enter the lytic or lysogenic cycle
hydrolase
a hydrolytic enzyme that degrades the entire host genome, an early gene