Viral and Prion Pathogens Flashcards
What do viruses require to survive?
Need a host cell to survive
‘Steal’ energy, metabolic intermediates and enzymes from host cells to replicate
What does a virus consist of?
- Genome (RNA or DNA)
- Capsid (protein coat)
- Envelope (lipid bilayer)
Some viruses also carry their own enzymes
Do all viruses have an envelope?
No
What is adsorption?
Interaction between host receptor molecule and virus ligand
What occurs after adsorption?
Penetration and uncoating of virus
What does uncoating of virus involve?
Nucleic acid is liberated (from phagosome and/or capsid)
What are the 2 ways in which viruses are classified?
- By the genetic material inside them
2. Do they have an envelope
How are viruses classified by the genetic material inside them?
- DNA or RNA
- Single or double stranded
If the genetic material inside viruses is single stranded, how is this further classified?
If single, positive vs negative sense
What is the classification of Herpes viruses?
Double-stranded enveloped DNA viruses
How many types of Herpes viruses are known to infect humans?
9
Herpes viruses are characterised by their ability to…?
Establish latency in the body and REACTIVATE
What are the 9 types of human herpes viruses?
- Herpes simplex 1
- Herpes simplex 2
- Varicella zoster
- Epstein Barr
- Cytomegalovirus
- Human herpes virus 6A
- Human herpes virus 6B
- Human herpes virus 7
- Human herpes virus 8
Disease name for herpes simplex 1 (HSV-1)?
Cold sores
What % of the population will experience HSV-1 in their lives?
80%
How is HSV-1 transmitted?
Mainly transmitted by oral-to-oral contact via direct contact with HSV-1 lesions in sores/saliva/surfaces around mouth
HSV-1 can also be transmitted to the genital area through oral-genital contact to cause genital herpes
Where does HSV-1 establish latency?
In sensory nerve ganglion of trigeminal nerve of infected individuals
Has periodic reactivations
What is the trigeminal nerve?
The 5th cranial nerve
What are the 2 syndromes caused by HSV-1?
- Vesicles/ulcers to skin or mucous membranes (typically mouth, sometimes genitals)
- Encephalitis
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of the brain - often severe or fatal
What is the commonest cause of viral encephalitis worldwide?
HSV-1
Typical disease name for herpes simplex 2 (HSV-2)?
Genital herpes (‘herpes’)
How is HSV-2 transmitted?
Direct contact with vesicle fluid from lesions (active vesicle)
Almost exclusively sexually transmitted
Can the herpes viruses be cured?
No - only managed
Where does HSV-2 establish latency?
Latency in sensory nerve ganglia of the SACRAL ganglia
Therefore, when periodic reactivations occur, they occur in the genital area
Location of latency of HSV-1 vs HSV-2?
HSV-1: trigeminal nerve sensory ganglia
HSV-2: sacral nerve sensory ganglia
What syndromes are caused by HSV-2?
- Vesicles/ulcers to skin or mucous membranes (typically genitals/buttocks)
- Meningitis
- Neonatal herpes (life threatening)
What does meningitis from HSV-2 typically follow?
An outbreak of genital lesions
Define ‘viraemia’?
viruses present in the bloodstream
How are neonates exposed to HSV-2?
Vertical transmission from mother’s genital tract after vaginal birth
Typical disease names for Varicella zoster virus?
Primary infection: ‘chicken pox’
Reactivation: ‘herpes zoster’ or ‘shingles’
What is the mode of transmission for Varicella zoster?
Respiratory droplets from person with chicken pox (highly infectious)
or
Direct contact with vesicle fluid from person with chicken pox or shingles
Where is latency for Varicella zoster established?
Dorsal root ganglia of whole CNS (i.e. shingles can reactivate down any of the dermatomes)
What are the 2 important syndromes caused by Varicella zoster?
- Chicken pox
2. Shingles
Typical disease names for Epstein Barr virus?
Glandular fever / infectious mononucleosis
What % of UK are infected with Epstein Barr?
90% in the UK are infected by age 25
Of these, 50% infected before age 5yrs
Mode of transmission for Epstein Barr?
Virus is shed in saliva and §genital secretions - ‘kissing disease’
Where is latency for Epstein Barr established?
In B cells
What is the primary infection caused by Epstein Barr?
Infectious mononucleosis
How does infectious mononucleosis typically present (symptoms)?
- Tonsilitis
- Fever
- Lymphadenopathy (swollen lymph nodes)
- Hepatosplenomegaly
How does infectious mononucleosis appear on blood film?
Atypical lymphocytes on blood film –> look like monocytes - ‘mononucleosis’
What % of clinical infectious mononucleosis is caused by EBV?
80%
What does reactivation of EBV lead to?
- If unwell or immunosuppressed (e.g. solid organ or bone marrow transplant)
- Associated with malignant B cell lymphoproliferative disorders
In the UK what is the prevalence of Cytomegalovirus (CMV)?
% prevalence roughly equals age
E.g. 20% of 20 year olds, 30% of 30 year olds …
What are the mode of transmissions for CMV?
- Saliva or genital secretions
- Donated blood, stem cells or solid organs
Where does CMV take latency?
Various cells of the immune system: myeloid progenitors, monocytes, dendritic cells
What are the 2 important clinical syndromes caused by CMV?
- Infectious mononucleosis (primary infection) - makes up the other 20% of causes of this disease
- Congenital CMV infection
How is congenital CMV infection acquired?
In infants born to mothers who have infection during pregnancy
Presentation of congenital CMV infection?
Retinitis, deafness, microcephaly, hepatosplenomegaly in the neonate
Who is most susceptible to reactivation of CMV?
Immunosuppressed patients (e.g. transplant patients, advanced HIV)
What can reactivation of CMV lead to?
Reactivation of latent CMV can cause retinitis, colitis, pneumonitis
What are the 4 major viruses behind the ‘common cold’?
- Rhinoviruses
- Coronaviruses
- Influenza viruses
- Respiratory syncytial virus
What virus is the most common cause of the common cold?
Rhinovirus
Mode of transmission of rhinovirus?
Aerosolised respiratory secretions (coughs and sneezes), droplets from nose and eyes
Important clinical syndrome caused by rhinovirus?
Common cold
Symptoms of common cold?
sneezing, nasal obstruction & discharge, sore throat, cough, headache and fever
Mode of transmission of coronaviruses?
Aerosolised respiratory secretions and droplets from nose and eyes
Important clinical syndromes caused by coronaviruses?
COVID-19, SARS, MERS, common cold
How can coronaviruses be divided?
Alpha and beta coronaviruses
Is the current COVID-19 pandemic due to alpha or beta coronaviruses?
Beta - SARS-CoV-2
Who can coronaviruses infect?
Animals and humans
Who can influenza infect?
Infect humans and animals, can spread between species
What are the 3 distinct types of influenza?
A, B and C
Which type of influenza mutates regularly?
A - the strains vary yearly
What are the 2 important surface proteins on influenza?
H and N - these have multiple variants –> this is used in nomenclature
What is H1N1?
Swine flu
influenza A virus subtype
What is H3N2?
Seasonal flu
influenza A virus subtype
What is the mode of transmission of influenza?
Aerosolised respiratory secretions (coughs and sneezes!)
What are the 2 important clinical syndromes cause by influenza (1ary and 2ary)?
- Primary influenza illness
2. Post-influenza secondary bacterial lung infection
Symptoms of primary influenza illness?
fever, myalgia (muscle aches), then headache, cough, sore throat, nasal discharge
What bacteria causes a post-influenza secondary bacterial lung infection?
S. pneumoniae, H. influenzae, S. aureus
How can influenza lead to a 2ary bacterial lung infection?
Virus damages lung tissue –> more susceptible to bacterial infection
Who is respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) most common in?
Commonest in young children: 70% are infected and 30% have had clinical illness in their first year of life
Mode of transmission of RSV?
Aerosolisation of respiratory secretions
What is the most important clinical syndrome associated with RSV?
Bronchiolitis
Who does bronchiolitis affect?
Children under 2