Theme 1: Lecture 2 - Viral and prion pathogens Flashcards
What 4 structures might a virus consist of?
- genome (RNA or DNA)
- capsid (protein coat)
- Envelope (lipid bilayer)
- some viruses also carry their own enzymes
What are the 6 steps in the lifecycle of a virus?
- adsorption
- penetration
- uncoating
- synthesis
- assembly
- release
How are viruses classified?
- By the genetic material inside them
- DNA or RNA
- single or double stranded
- if single, +ve or -ve strand - presence or absence of an envelope
What is the structure of herpes virus, how many types are known to infect humans and what is their characteristic feature?
- double stranded enveloped DNA viruses
- 9 types known to infect humans
- characterised by their ability to establish latency and reactivate
What are 2 other names for herpes simplex 1?
- HSV-1
- ‘cold sores’
What is the mode of transmission of herpes simplex 1?
- direct contact with vesicle fluid from lesions
- latency in sensory nerve ganglion - periodic reactivations
What symptoms/syndromes does herpes simplex 1 cause?
- fluid filled vesicles/ ulcers to skin or mucous membrane - typically mouth (can also be found on genitals due to oral sex)
- encephalitis - brain inflammation
What is the commonest cause of viral encephalitis?
HSV-1
What are 2 other names for herpes simplex 2?
- hsv-2
- genital herpes
What is the mode of transmission of herpes simplex 2?
- direct contact with vesicle fluid from lesions
- latency in sensory nerve ganglion - periodic reactivations
- vertical (from mother’s genital tract after vaginal birth)
What symptoms/syndromes does herpes simplex 2 cause?
- vesicles/ ulcers to skin or mucous membrane (typically genitals/buttocks)
- meningitis
- neonatal herpes - severe disseminated viraemia (life-threatening)
What are the other disease names of varicella zoster virus?
primary infection = chicken pox
reactivation = ‘herpes zooster’, ‘shingles’
What is the mode of transmission of chicken pox?
- respiratory droplet from person infected
- direct contact with vesicle fluid
Where is latency established in varicella zoster virus?
dorsal root ganglia
What is the clinical presentation of chicken pox?
febrile (fever) illness with widespread vesicular rash
What are other disease names for Epstein Barr virus?
- glandular fever
- infectious mononucleosis
- ‘kissing disease’
What is the mode of transmission of Epstein Barr virus?
virus is shed in saliva and genital secretions
What is the primary infection of Epstein Barr virus and what can it cause?
infectious mononucleosis
-can cause tonsillitis, fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatospleomegaly
Why might Epstein Barr virus reactivate?
if unwell or immunosuppressed
How is epstein Barr virus an oncogenic virus?
associated with malignant B cell lymphoproliferative disorders
What is the mode of transmission of cytomegalovirus?
- saliva or genital secretions
- donated blood, stem cells or solid organs
- latency in myeloid progenitors/monocytes/ dendritic cells
What is the primary infection of cytomegalovirus?
infectious mononucleosis
What is congenital CMV infection?
- in infants morn to mothers who have the infection during pregnancy
- can cause retinitis, deafness, microcephaly, hepatospenomegaly
Reactivation of latent CMV in immunosuppressed patients can cause which conditions?
retinitis, colitis, pneumonitis
What are the 5 herpes viruses?
- herpes simplex-1
- herpes simplex-2
- varicella zoster virus
- epstein barr virus
- cytomegalovirus
What are the 7 known causes of the ‘common cold’?
- rhinovirus
- coronavirus
- influenza virus
- respiratory syncytial virus
- parainfluenza virus
- adenovirus
- enterovirus
What is rhinovirus and what is its mode of transmission?
- common cold
- aerosolised respiratory secretions (coughs and sneezes)
- droplets from nose and eyes
What are the symptoms of rhinovirus?
sneezing, nasal obstruction & discharge, sore throat, cough, headache and fever
What is the 2nd commonest cause of the common cold?
coronaviruses
What is the mode of transmission in coronavirus?
- aerosolised respiratory secretions (coughs and sneezes)
- droplets from nose and eyes
What are the subtypes of coronaviruses discovered?
Coronaviruses are divided into alpha and beta
Some beta coronaviruses include:
-COVID-19
-SARS
-MERS - Middle East respiratory syndrome - occurs from camels
Which respiratory viruses are zoonotic?
- coronaviruses
- influenza
What are the 3 types of influenza?
A, B and C
-Influenza A mutates regularly so strains vary yearly
What are the two important surface proteins found in influenza?
H&N
What is the H1N1 strand of influenza also called?
swine flu
What is the mode of transmission of influenza?
aerosolised respiratory secretions (coughs and sneezes)