Viral Flashcards
T/F: neonatal HIV antibody tests are unreliable
TRUE: maternal HIV antibodies can cross placenta and persist in baby for many months, leading to inaccurate testing
how is HIV transmitted
blood borne: sexual intercourse, intravenous drug needles or blood transfusions, MTC (mother to child)
what occurs during the seroconversion (acute) phase of HIV infection?
first target Langerhans cells (specialized DC cells in epidermis and epithelia), which fuse with CD4+ T cells to spread virus deeper into tissues, including lymph, where much of viral replication takes place (and in blood stream). Macrophages become infected and steadily release HIV into bloodstream (pro-viral reservoir and source of active infection). Viral load is high. Body deploys CD8+ T cells and B cells as alternative response. This causes temporary drop in viral load.
T/F: HIV can replicate in the bloodstream
TRUE: replication occurs mostly in lymph tissue and blood stream. Macrophages act as pro-viral reservoir and source of active infection, releasing HIV virions into bloodstream
how does body respond to initial targeting of CD4+ T cells by HIV?
deploys CD8+ T cells and B cells - this causes temporary drop in viral load (at end of seroconversion phase, beginning of asymptomatic phase)
what marks the beginning of the clinically latent infection phase of HIV?
drop in viral load, due to body deploying CD8+ T cells and B cells
CD4+ T cell count is still steadily declining
what marks the beginning of the third phase of HIV infection, AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome)
during asymptomatic phase, CD4+ T cell count steadily declines. Eventually, this leads to dysregulation of B cells. This allows opportunistic infections to develop
what defines AIDS in the US?
CD4+ T cell count < than 200 per microliter
maculopapular rash
smooth skin rash with elevated bumps, a combination of macules and papules - macules are flat, discolored spots that are not filled with fluid. Papules are small bumps that are solid
How soon after infection can HIV antibody tests detect antibodies?
3-12 weeks after infection
can be done as rapid test or in the lab. Antibodies detected sooner in blood than oral fluid
what kind of test can detect HIV infection as soon as virus appears in bloodstream, before antibodies develop (as early as 10 days after infection)?
HIV RNA PCR test
what kind of cancer is common among people who have AIDS after developing HIV infection?
Kaposi’s sarcoma - develops from cells that line lymph or blood vessels. Appears as abnormal tissue growth on skin or in lining of mouth, throat, lymph nodes. Lesions are red/purple and become life threatening when they appear in lungs, liver, or GI tract.
what are some signs of a serious influenza infection?
fever, pallor, tachypnea and SOB, tachycardia, decreased O2 saturation, coarse rhonchi and decreased breath sounds at base of lungs, dry mucous membranes (dehydration)
how does influenza virus enter host?
respiratory droplets
what are the two major glycoproteins on surface of influenza virus and what do they do?
hemagglutinin - viral binding to respiratory epithelial cells via sialic acid on cell surface
neuraminidase - cleaves sialic acid to release newly formed virions, decreases viscosity of mucous film coating respiratory tract (facilitating spread)
antigenic drift vs antigenic shift
drift - point mutations during viral replication, responsible for new virus strains
shift - entirely new virus introduced into human population, occurs when either non-human strain gains ability to infect human host or genetic reassortment occurs between human and non-human strains. Especially dangerous because entire population lacks immunity
Antigenic [drift/shift] can result in worldwide pandemics, which strike approx. once every generation
antigenic shift - occurs as result of genomic reassortment between nonhuman and human strain of virus
what are the components of a virion?
capsid (outer protein shell), inner core of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), and sometimes an additional fatty envelope surrounding capsid
what is the other name for Tamiflu, and what is it used for?
aka Oseltamivir, antiviral medication used to treat symptoms of influenza. Can also be given as preventive medication following exposure
Acetylsalicylic acid, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen are examples of what type of medication?
antipyretic - reduce fever
what is the difference between RSV infection in adults and children? (typically)
RSV = respiratory syncytial virus
In adults, causes minor cold. In children, causes bronchiolitis (infection of small airways), usually under age of 2
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is nonenveloped or enveloped? DNA or RNA?
enveloped RNA virus
What are the two important glycoproteins of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and what do they do?
F - fusion of virus and host cell PM, forming syncytia that can be seen in vitro (multinucleated cell from fusion of single nucleated cells)
G - targets ciliated cells of airways to cause attachment of virus to cells
most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children under age of 1:
RSV: respiratory syncytial virus
60yo m pt presents with painful vesicular rash on R side of torso. Upon examination, you find tiny fluid filled blisters. What viral infection do you suspect?
classic presentation of shingles (herpes zoster) - skin manifestation of reactivation of varicella zoster virus from chicken pox as a child
varicella zoster virus is a member of the ___ virus family
alpha herpes virus family
causes chicken pox in children, shingles in adults
most common means of transmission of varicella zoster virus?
respiratory droplets
varicella zoster virus (VZV) displays viral tropism for ___, which allow it to spread throughout the body via the blood stream
T cells
varicella zoster virus invades the skin during which phase of viremia
secondary viremia (when virus is spreading through bloodstream after second round of replication)
how does varicella zoster virus enter latent phase?
taken up by sensory neurons in skin, travels up to dorsal root ganglion. Sensory neurons are immune privileged (good hiding place for virus)
how is varicella zoster reactivated in shingles?
hiding in infected sensory neurons during latent phase, then travels back down to cause shingles in dermatome associated with infected nerves
postherpetic neuralgia
severe complication of shingles, difficult to treat condition associated with nerve pain from damage to nerve cells by varicella virus - causes abnormal electrical firing that conveys severe pain. Can last for months, years, or in some cases for life
Tzanck smear
test to diagnose bullous and vesicular skin lesions caused by herpes simplex, herpes zoster (shingles), and varicella
scape cells from base of skin lesion and stain to look for Tzanck cells (multinucleated giant cells)