Unit 6 Flashcards
what is a virus?
infectious agent made up of nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) wrapped in protein coat (capsid)
what kind of parasite is a virus?
obligate intracellular
what are the hosts of viruses?
bacteria
animal
plants
what are the two essential components of viruses?
- genetic material (DNA/RNA)
- protective protein coat called capsid
what are the characteristics of viruses?
- no nucleus
- no organelles
- no cytoplasm/cell membrane
- doesn’t belong to any kingdoms
- either naked or enveloped
how to viruses exist?
hijacking the cellular machinery of another living thing to reproduce by injecting its genetic material into a host cell
what is on the outside of viruses?
outer envelope derived from host cell with specific spikes of protein (H and N spikes of influenza)
what do the spikes on the envelope do?
aids in attachment and makes them sensitive to chemical actions of disinfectants
what are the three major scenarios of origin of viruses?
- virus early hypothesis
- regression hypothesis
- escaped genes hypothesis
what is the virus early hypothesis?
- at the beginning there were replicative elements (preceding early life forms)
- viruses evolved from ancestor
what is the regression hypothesis?
- degeneration of cells was basis for viral rise
- later acquired parasitic lifestyle
what is the escaped genes hypothesis?
- cellular genes simply acquired ability for selfish replication and spreading
what is the structure of viruses?
- contain nucleocapsid composed of nucleic acids and protein coat
what is the virion envelope?
- outer, flexible, membranous layer
- animal virus envelope originate from host cell plasma or nuclear membranes
what are the characteristics of the envelope?
- viral ID
- enzymatic activity
- play role in nucleic acid replication
why is it accepted that variety of virions have enzymes?
reverse transcriptase in HIV
how do viruses recognize cells it can infect?
matching its surface marker with receptor site on a cell
does rabies only attack brain or nervous cells?
yes
are viruses bigger than bacteria?
no smaller