Virology Flashcards
What is a virus?
An obligate intracellular parasite
What is the structure of a virus?
Only some have an envelope
What is the most common shape of a virus?
An Icosahedral (a shape formed from 20 identical equilateral triangular faces)
What virus do we need to know that is an etiological cause of cancer?
Human Papilloma Virus
What 2 viruses do we need to know that affect the GI tract?
Rotavirus
Norovirus
What 2 viruses do we need to know that affect the blood?
HIV
Hepatitis
How do viruses grow inside a cell?
They bind to receptors on the cell surface and endocytose
Their RNA is then:
- transcribed and translated
- replicated
This then causes the assembly of virus particles, which are then modified
They then burst out of the cell
How do enveloped viruses acquire their envelopes?
The capsid undergoes budding in which it moves out of the cell and becomes enclosed in a part of the cells membrane containing virus glycoproteins
What does SARS stand for?
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
What does MERS stand for?
Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome
What is the CFR of a pathogen?
Case Fatality Rate
What is a bacteriophage?
A virus that infects a bacteria
How do viruses hide in the body?
They can move their spike proteins in and out of the cytoplasm
What is a localised virus?
An infection that remains in one place
What are examples of localised viruses?
Rhinovirus
Molluscum contagiosum (Verruca) - do not reach the blood supply so can’t spread
