Microbiology pathogenicity: Viruses Flashcards
3 main components of a virus’ structure
genetic material (essential)
protein coat (capsid and is essential)
lipid membrane (envelope, optional)
genetic material in a virus
DNA or RNA
double or single stranded
protein coat/capsid in a virus
helical
icosahedral, 20 sided
more complex shapes
HIV as an example of a virus
retrovirus: enveloped, ssRNA genome
protein components: nucleocapsid, capsid, matrix
bacteriophage
viruses that infect bacteria
role in bacterial virulence- spread pathogenicity genes
used in phage therapy of bacterial infections
useful model system to study viral replications
lytic cycle
phage infects a cell
phage DNA circularises, remaining separate from the host DNA
phage DNA replicated and phage proteins are made
new phage particles assembled
cell lyses
releasing phage
lysogenic cycle
phage infects cell
phage DNA becomes incorporated into the host genome
cell divides and prophage DNA is passed onto daughter cells
under stressful conditions the phage DNA is excised form the bacterial chromosome and enters the lytic cycle
the phage DNA replicated and new phage proteins are made
new phage particles assemble
cell lyses
releasing the phage
viral pathogenesis
process by which a viral infection leads to disease
abnormal situation of no value to the virus
majority of viral infections are subclinical, not in the interest of the virus to severely harm or kill the host
consequences of viral infections depend on the interplay between a number of viral and host factors
2 outcomes of viral infection
acute infeciton
chronic infection
acute viral infection
recovery with no residue effects
recovery with residue effects
death
proceed to chronic infection
chronic infection
silent subclinical infection for life, CMV/EBV
long silent period before disease, HIV/SSPE/PML
reactivation to cause acute disease, herpes/shingles
chronic disease with relapses and excerbations, HBV/HCV
cancers
factors in viral pathogenesis
effects of viral infection on cells
entry into the host
course of infection
cell/tissue tropism
cell/tissue damage
host immune response
virus clearance or persistence
how do cells respond to viral infections
no apparent change
death
transformation
what may direct cell damage and death from viral infection result from
diversion of cells energy
shutoff of cell macromolecule synthesis
competition of viral mRNA for cellular ribosomes
competitions of viral promoters and transcription enhances for cellular transcriptional factors such as RNA polymerases and inhibition of interferon defence mechanisms
what can indirect cell damage result from
integration of the viral genome
induction of mutations in the host genome
inflammation
host immune response
what is tropism determined by
cell receptors for virus
cell transcription factors that recognise viral promoters and enhancer sequences
ability of the cell to support virus replication
physical barriers
local temperature,ph and oxygen tension enzymes and non-specific factors in body secretions
digestive enzymes and bile in the gastrointestinal tract that may inactivate some viruses