Viral Infections of the Upper Respiratory Tract

Question 1

What 2 viruses cause the common cold?

Answer 1

Rhinovirus and coronavirus

Question 2

What 2 viruses cause croup?

Answer 2

Respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus

Question 3

Of the 6 or so most common URT viruses, which is the only DNA virus?

Answer 3

Adenovirus

Question 4

Which pattern of virus replication do rhinovirus, coronavirus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, and influenza virus follows?

Answer 4

Acute infection with replication confined to respiratory mucosa (resolution clears virus)

Question 5

Which pattern of virus replication do EBV, adenovirus, and papillomavirus follow?

Answer 5

Persistent replication on respiratory mucosa (can establish latency)

Question 6

Which pattern of virus replication do mumps, measles, herpesviruses, rubella, and polio follow?

Answer 6

Systemic replication / dissemination following primary replication in the respiratory tract

Question 7

Which (-) ssRNA virus causes cold like symptoms, but can mutate to cause lethal respiratory outbreaks?

Answer 7

Coronavirus

Question 8

All the myxoviruses share what characteristic infection pattern and what characteristic structure?

Answer 8

Bind to mucin protein on RBCs; are enveloped

Question 9

What is a more common name for the orthomyxoviridae?

Answer 9

Influenza viruses

Question 10

The 3 genera of paramyxoviridae are paramyxovirus, morbillivirus, and pneumovirus. Where do measles, mumps, respiratory syncytial virus, and parainfluenza fall?

Answer 10

Paramyxovirus: mumps and parainfluenza
Morbillivirus: measles
Pneumovirus: RSV

Question 11

Unlike most RNA viruses, where in the cell does influenza virus replicate?

Answer 11

In the nucleus (instead of cytoplasm)

Question 12

What is special about the influenza virus genome structure?

Answer 12

It is a segmented genome

Question 13

What disease is characterized by desquamation of mucus-secreting and ciliated cells + interferon production, and can progress to pneumonia?

Answer 13

Influenza

Question 14

Why is it so hard to make a vaccine for RSV?

Answer 14

Because having antibodies against RSV actually makes the infection worse

Question 15

How is RSV croup treated?

Answer 15

With steam and humidifiers (no vaccine or drugs available)

Question 16

Give 3 places in the body that adenovirus can infect.

Answer 16

Respiratory tract, GI tract, and eyes (can also affect other disparate places)

Question 17

Where in nature is adenovirus found and does it have a peak season?

Answer 17

Found everywhere (ex. daycares, military camps, swimming clubs); no seasonal incidence (seen year-round)

Question 18

How is adenovirus treated? Is there a vaccine?

Answer 18

Treat using antibody; vaccine available for military personnel only