Smiley-11: Subviral Agents Flashcards
1
Q
2 subviral agents
A
- viroids
- prions
2
Q
Main target organism of viroids
A
plants
3
Q
Do viroids encode proteins?
A
NO
4
Q
Differentiate between 2 groups of viroids
A
- Group A: replicate in chloroplasts
- Group B: replicate in nucleus
5
Q
How are viroids transmitted (passive or active)?
A
passive
6
Q
What are prions?
A
infectious proteins
7
Q
What general disorder can prions cause?
A
TSE (transmissible spongiform encephalopathies)
8
Q
What is special about infectious agent for scrapie?
A
it lacks nucleic acid
9
Q
What does scrapie consist of?
A
one protein: PrP
10
Q
Regular function of PrP
A
roles in myelination of peripheral neurons, regulation of cell growth, differentiation and signaling pathways
11
Q
two forms of PrP
A
PrPc (normal) and PrPsc (infective)
12
Q
Why is PrPsc so infectious?
A
- it can convert molecules of PrPc into PrPsc
- change is irreversible
13
Q
3 sources of PrPsc
A
- spontaneous folding of PrPc
- genetic mutations
- another infected individual
