Review Flashcards
What is a virus?
- A virus is a small, infectious, obligate, intracellular parasite
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What are the steps of virus lifecycle?
- Attachment
- Penetration
- Uncoating
- Replication
- Assembly
- Maturation/processing
- Release
What are the methods of viral entry into a host cell?
direct fusion
- virion and envelope fuse to host cell
- nucleocapsid is released into host cell
endocytosis
- virion enters host cell and forms vessicle
- acidification and release of nucleocapsid
Where does viral replication occur?
Most RNA viruses replicate in cytoplasm
- except retroviruses and orthomyxoviruses (flu)
Most DNA viruses replicate in nucleus
- except poxviruses
What must viruses do to make proteins?
All viruses must express their genes as functional mRNAs early in infection in order to direct the cell’s translational machinery to make viral proteins
How do the different types of DNA viruses make their proteins?
dsDNA
- Cellular RNA polymerase => mRNA
ssDNA
- Cellular DNA polymerase => dsDNA => Cellular RNA polymerase => mRNA
How do the different types of RNA viruses make their proteins?
(+) ssRNA
- viral genome acts as mRNA
dsRNA
- viral RDRP
(-) ssRNA
- virion RDRP
Retroviruses
- Reverse Transcriptase
What are the two classification systems used for viruses?
Classical System
- genome type: DNA or RNA
- Capsid type
- Naked or enveloped
Baltimore Classification System
- DNA or RNA
- 7 replication schemes (don’t need to know all 7) just know replication strategy determines classification
What are cytopathic effects?
visible signs of infected cells can be observed with inverted light microscopes
- rounding, shrinkage, lysis
What quantitative assays can be conducted for viruses?
plaque assay
- take sample and sequentially dilute to determine how many plaques form per volume of sample
hemagglutination assay
What are the Three General Approaches for Laboratory Diagnosis of Viral Infections?
Direct detection of viral antigen
- rabies - bullet shaped
- smallpox - dumbbell shaped
Virus isolation
- PCR
Serology
What is viral pathogenesis?
The mechanism by which a virus causes disease in the host
What are the Six steps that viruses employ to propagate and survive?
Enter the cell and translocate the genome to the site of replication
Replicate its genome and produce mRNA
Generate viral proteins
Assemble progeny viruses and then emerge from the cell
Evade host defenses
Disperse and persist in the environment
What are the preferred methods for viruses to gain entry into the host and then target specific cell types?
Respiratory tract (rhinoviruses, influenza) Gastrointestinal tract Genital tract Conjunctiva (eyes) Skin
What are the general patterns of infection for viruses?
Acute Infection
- Quick viral replication and clearance
Persistent Infection
- Prolonged viral load
Latent Infection
- Viral reactivation
Slow virus infection
- HIV