Viral Infections Flashcards
What causes rabies?
Lyssavirus transmitted via bites from infected animals
What causes yellow fever?
Transmittion of arbovirus via mosquito vectors
What is the first stage of yellow fever?
Lasting up to 6 days- fever, muscle pain, headaches
What is the second stage of yellow fever?
50% survival- jaundice, abdominal pain, haemorrhage
What are the two malaria species that pose the greatest threat?
P. falciparum and P vivax
How is malaria transmitted?
The female anopheles mosquito acts as a vector- 30 of 400 species take on this role.
What is the first stage of malarial febrile paroxysms?
Vasoconstriction
Shivering
Rapid increase in temperature to 41 degrees
What is the second stage of malarial febrile paroxysms?
Delirium lasting 2-6 hours
What is the third stage of malarial febrile paroxysms?
Sweating
Fatigue
What complications may occur if over 2% of red blood cells become infected with malaria?
Cerebral malaria
Black water fever, leading to renal failure
What is the treatment for malaria?
Quinine, malarone or raimet
Artemensin combined with one of the above minimises resistance.
What is used to treat resistant malaria?
Chloroquine
What is the disadvantage of quinine?
Very toxic in overdose
What is the disadvantage of raimet?
Prolongs QT interval
What are the effects of tick borne encephalitis?
Influenza like symptoms
Inflammation of the brain and spinal cord
What is the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the UK?
Norovirus
Describe the structure of norovirus.
27nm in size with icosahedral nucleocapsid. Small non-enveloped virions. Part of the Caliciviridae family
Why is norovirus so infectious?
It has an extremely low infectious dose
<10 virions to infected 50% of individuals
What are the symptoms of norovirus?
Sudden onset nausea Projectile vomiting Diarrhoea Abdominal pain Headache Myalgias Malaise Lasting 24-72 hours
What causes diarrhoea in norovirus?
Nutrient malabsorption with enzymatic dysfunction ate the brush border.
What causes vomiting in norovirus?
Virus mediated changes in gastric motility and emptying.
What is the general life cycle of a virus?
Virion absorbed into host cell
Virus penetrates cell and uncoats
Viruses replicate certain components to assemble in host cell
Components released by budding
Spread via cell-cell contact
Both abortive and productive infections can lead to cell death
Describe the structure of influenza viruses.
Have single stranded RNA, three subtypes are infectious to humans. Antigenic surface proteins include neuraminidase and haemagglutinin.
What is the role of haemagglutunin in influenza?
Receptor binding site that attaches to sialic acid containing receptors on host cells. Influenza visions can then be internalised by endocytosis.
What is the role of neuraminidase in influenza?
Cleaves sialic acid so newly formed virions are able to spread to other cells.
What are the roles of M proteins in influenza?
M1 is significant in viral assembly
M2 channels transport protons to control pH, low pH triggers the fusion of viral and end-somali membranes allowing RNA to be transported to the nucleus of the host cell.
What is antigenic drift?
Slight modification of a virus to evade the immune system.
What is antigenic shift?
Radical modification of a virus to evade the immune system.
What is amantadine?
A synthetic tricyclic amine that at high concentrations inhibits the uncoating of influenza virus within fusion vacuoles and at low concentrations inhibits cell penetration. Used to help ease symptoms of influenza.
What is oseltamivir? How does it work?
Transition state inhibitor used as a sialic acid analogue to inhibit neuraminidase on the influenza virus. It is an ester prodrug taken orally.
How do primary Herpes simplex infections occur?
Entry via a break in the mucus membrane/skin
How does the Herpes virus evade host immune system?
Enters via peripheral sensory nerves and migrates along axons to the CNS. Virus then becomes latent and reactivation leads to recurrent disease as it travels back to the surface of the body to replicate, causing tissue damage.
What is varicella zoster?
Chicken pox, infection occurs via respiratory tract or conjuctiva eventually spreading to the blood stream.