Taxonomy of Viruses Flashcards
General characteristics of viruses
Ecological interactions? Hosts? Consists of?
- Obligate intracellular parasites
- Host cells include all groups of organisms
- Piece of nucleic acid enclosed within a protein coat
- 1 type of nucleic acid found in the virion of a given virus
Virions
- Outside of the host
- inert infectious particles
Capsid
Protein coat around the nucleic acid
Nucleocapsid
Nucleic acid + protein coat
Capsomeres
Protein subunit that makes up the capsid
Envelope
Lipid-containing layer with embedded proteins
* Proteins in the envelope are virus specific
Shapes of Virions
- Helical virus: Typical of many plant viruses
- Polyhedral virus: most common is icosahedron
- Complex virus: Composed of several parts
Viroids
- Closed circles of single-stranded RNA containing 240-380 nucleotides
- Replication is dependent on host machinery
Prions
- Consists solely of 1 protein
- Commonly found in neurons
- Induces misfolding of normal prion proteins who’s accumulation kills cells
- Cause of many neurological degenerative disorders
Taxonomy
Virus
- Grouped into families (end in “-viridae”)
- Given a genus name (end in “-virus”)
- Given a species name (usually English)
Classificationof viruses
Based on characteristics:
* Nature of the host
* Type of disease caused
* Life cycle
* Naked or enveloped
* Type of nucleic acids and strandedness
Baltimore classification scheme
Classification is based on the type of genome
Pathway of viruses
- Absorption
- Penetration
- Uncoating
- Replication
- Maturation
- Release
Absorption
Life cycle
Attachment of the virus to
specific receptors on the surface of the cell
Penetration
Life cycle
Virus genome enters the cell
* The complete virion may enter the cell
* In enveloped viruses: Envelope may be left at the cell surface
* In naked viruses: Capsid may be left at the surface
Uncoating
Life cycle
Removal of the envelope and\or
the capsid by host enzymes
Replication
Replication of the nucleic acid,
transcription and protein synthesis
Maturation
Assembly of virus components, nucleic acid, nucleocapsid and accessory proteins to form new virions
Release
Mature virions exit the host cell by means of budding or by causing lysis of the cell.