RNA Viruses Flashcards
How are the enteric Picornaviruses (Polio, Coxsackie, Echovirus, Enterovirus) spread?
Respiratory route, fecal/oral
What symptoms are associated with rotavirus infection?
Gastroenteritis - watery diarrhea (common in infants)
What symptoms are associated with hepatovirus A infection?
Hep A infection is generally asymptomatic and self-resolving. Other hepatoviruses may cause jaundice, liver enzyme changes, fever, fatigue, etc.
Poliovirus causes viremia and may cross the blood-brain barrier. What cells are targeted by the virus?
Axons of peripheral nerves
Parainfluenza virus is a Paramyxovirus. How is the virus spread, what is the clinical presentation, and who is most at risk?
Transmission via aerosols
Leading cause of croup
6 months - 6 years old at risk
How is norovirus spread?
Fecal/oral
All RNA viruses replicate in the cytoplasm of the host cell with the exception of which viruses?
Orthomyxovirus & Retroviruses
What are the characteristics of Togaviruses?
Enveloped, icosahedral, +ssRNA
What is the target for the rotavirus vaccine?
Outer shell proteins - VP7 & VP4
What is the most important Calicivirus?
Norovirus
How is hepatovirus A spread?
Fecal/oral, IV drug use, contaminated food (less common)
Describe the clinical appearance of dengue fever.
Fever, chills, malaise, headache, retro-orbital pain, myalgia, arthralgia, nausea, vomiting, rash
Dengue hemorrhagic fever - Thrombocytopenia. Hypovolemic shock, Multiple organ failure, Severe hemorrhage, Encephalopathy
Hepatitis C is protected from the human response. Why is this?
Assembly & release of HCV is intertwined with the maturation & release
of very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) particles. This results in viral antigens that are coated with self-antigens.
What ssRNA viruses are able to act as mRNA to directly translate proteins using host machinery?
+ssRNA
What are the characteristics of Paramyxoviruses?
Enveloped, helical, -ss RNA virus , ubiquitous
What are the characteristics of Coronaviruses?
Enveloped, helical +ssRNA viruses, largest RNA virus, transmission via respiratory route
What are the characteristics of Filoviruses?
(-) ssRNA; enveloped, helical nucleocapsid, filamentous particles
What are the characteristics of Bunyaviruses?
Trisegmented -ss RNA, helical, enveloped
What diseases are caused by Coxsackie B?
Pericarditis, myocarditis
Describe the clinical progression of yellow fever.
3 Stages - Infection, remission, & intoxication
Infection - non-specific symptoms, viremia
Remission - clinical improvement
Inxotication - severe infection, fever, hemorrhage, liver and kidney failure, shock
What are the characteristics of Hepevirus?
Naked, icosahedral virus; +ssRNA; spread fecal/oral
How is Rubella prevented?
Live, attenuated vaccine (MMR or MMRV)
How are rhinoviruses transmitted?
Respiratory route
How is Rubella spread?
Respiratory route
What are the characteristics of Arenavirus (Lassa fever virus)?
ssRNA (2 segments); enveloped, helical capsid
L (large) strand: (-) sense RNA; encodes polymerase
S (small) strand: ambisense RNA; structural proteins
What cells are targeted by Flaviviruses?
Monocytes/macrophages, dendritic cells, endothelial cells
What is the clinical progression of rabies?
Initial flu-like symptoms; hydrophobia (foaming at mouth); CNS symptoms; death
What is the urban cycle of arboviruses?
Human - mosquito - human
What genera make up Togaviruses?
Alphavirus genus & Rubivirus genus
What is the difference between antigenic drift and antigenic shift in influenza?
Antigenic drift involves point mutations in HA and NA proteins that are likely to cause epidemics.
Antigenic shift is a major antigenic change due to reassortment that is likely to cause a pandemic.
What symptoms are associated with Marburg and Ebola?
Non-specific febrile illness; GI symptoms; bleeding abnormalities; post-Ebola syndrome
What symptoms are associated with Coltivirus infection?
Fever (improves then worsens), chills, headache, lethargy, myalgia, rash