Virology Flashcards
Viral genetics: Reassortment
When viruses with segmented genomes (e.g influenza virus) exchange genetic material
E.g. H1N1 influenza A pandemic emerged via complex viral Reassortment of a gene from human, swine and avian viruses. Has the potential to cause antigenic shift
Viral genetics: Complementation
When 1 of 2 viruses that infect the cell has a mutation that results in a nonfunctional protein, the nonmutated virus “complements” the mutated one by making a functional protein that serves both viruses.
E.g. HepD virus requires the presence of replicating HepB virus to supply HBsAg, the envelope protein for HDV
Viral genetics: Phenotypic mixing
Occurs with simultaneous infection of a cell with 2 viruses. Genome of virus A can be partially or completely coated (forming pseudovirion)with the surface proteins of virus B. Type B protein coat determines the tropism (infectivity) of the hybrid virus. However, the progeny form this infection have a type A coat that is encoded by its type A genetic material
Live attenuated vaccines
Induce a humoral and cell-mediated immunity but have reverted to virulence on rare occasions.
Live attenuated: Smallpox, yellow fever, rotavirus, chickenpox, Sabin polio virus, MMR, Influenza (intranasal) –> Live! One night only! See small yellow rotating chickens get vaccinated with Sabin and MMR! It’s INcredible!
No booster needed.
Dangerous to give live vaccines to immunocompromised patients. Close contact may be can instead with live vaccines (except polio or influenza)
Killed viral vaccines
Rabies, influenza (injected), Salk Polio, and HAV vaccines
Killed/inactivated vaccines only humoral immunity but are stable
SalK = Killed; RIP Always
Subunit vaccines
HBV (Ag = HBsAg), HPV (types 6,11,16,18)
DNA viral genomes
All DNA viruses except the parvoviridae are dsDNA
All are linear except papilloma-, polyoma- and hepadaviruses (circular)
All are dsDNA (like our cells) except part-of-a-virus (parvovirus) is ssDNA
Replicated in the nucleus (except poxvirus)
RNA viral genomes
All RNA viruses except Reoviridae are ssRNA
Positive strand RNA viruses: I went to a retro (retrovirus) toga (togavirus) party, where I drank flavored (flavivirus) Corona (coronavirus) and ate hippie (Hepevirus) California (Calicivirus) pickles (picornavirus)
Replicated in the cytoplasm (except influenza virus and retroviruses)
Naked viral genome infectivity
Purified nucleic acids of most dsDNA (except poxviruses and HBV) and + strand ssRNA (mRNA) viruses are infectious.
Naked nucleic acids of - strand ssRNA and dsRNA viruses are not infectious but require polymerase a contained in the complete virion.
Viral envelopes
Naked (non-enveloped) viruses include Papillomarvirus, Adenovirus, Parvovirus, Polyomavirus, Calicivirus, Picornavirus, Reovirus and Hepevirus
Give PAPP smears and CPR to a naked hippie (Hepevirus)
Generally enveloped viruses acquire their envelopes from plasma membrane when they exit the cell. Exceptions include herpesviruses, which acquire envelopes from the nuclear membrane
DNA virus characteristics
Are HHAPPPPy viruses (*Hepadna, Herpes, Adeno, Pox, Parvo, Papilloma, Polyoma*) Are double stranded (except Parvo = ssDNA) Have linear genomes (except papilloma and polyoma - circular, supercoiled) and Hepadna (circular, incomplete) Are icosahedral (except pox - complex) Replication in the nucleus (except pox - carries own DNA dependent RNA polymerase)
DNA virus: Herpesviruses
Envelope: yes
DNA structure: DS & linear
Medical importance: HSV-1 & HSV-2
DNA virus: Poxvirus
Envelope: yes
DNA structure: DS & Linear (largest DNA virus)
Medical: smallpox eradicated worldwide by use of the live-attenuated vaccine
-cowpox (“milkmaid blisters”)
Molluscum contagiosum - flesh colored papule with central umbilication
DNA virus: Hepadnavirus
Envelope: yes
DNA structure: Partially DS & circular
Medical: HBV - acute or chronic hepatitis, not a retrovirus but has reverse transcriptase
DNA virus: Adenovirus
Envelope: no
DNA structure: DS & linear
Medical: febrile pharyngitis (sore throat), acute hemorrhagic cystitis, pneumonia, conjunctivitis
DNA virus: Papillomavirus
Envelope: no
DNA structure: DS & circular
Medical: HPV-warts (serotypes 1,2,6,11), CIN, Cervical cancer (16,18 most commonly)
DNA virus: Polyomavirus
Envelope: no
DNA structure: DS & circular
Medical: JC virus - progressive mutilfocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in HIV; BK virus - transplant pts commonly targets kidney
JC: Junky Cerebrum; BK: Bad Kidney
DNA virus: Parvovirus
Envelope: no
DNA structure: SS & linear (smallest DNA virus)
Medical: B19 virus - aplastic crisis in sickle cell disease, “slapped cheek” rash in children (erythema infectiosum/fifths disease)
RBC destruction in fetus leads to hydrops fetalis and death, in adults leads to pure RBC aplasia and rheumatoid arthritis-like symptoms
Viral genetics: Recombination
Exchange of genes between 2 chromosomes by crossing over within regions of significant base sequence homology
Herpes simplex virus-1
Enveloped, DS and linear
Transmission: respiratory secretions, saliva
Clinical: gingivostomatitis, keratoconjuntivitis, herpes labialis, hermetic whitlow on finger, termporal lobe encephalitis
Most common cause of sporadic encephalitis –> can present as altered mental status, seizures, and/or aphasia
Herpes simplex virus-2
Enveloped, DNA, linear
Transmission: sexual contact, perinatal
Clinical: Herpes genitalis, neonatal herpes
Latent in sacral ganglia. Viral meningitis more common with HSV-2 than with HSV-1
Varicella-Zoster Virus (HHV-3)
Enveloped, DNA, linear
Transmission: respiratory secretions
Clinical: varicella-zoster (chickenpox, shingles), encephalitis, pneumonia; most common complication of shingles is post-herpetic neuralgia
Latent in dorsal root or trigeminal ganglia
Epstein-Barr virus (HHV-4)
Enveloped, DNA, linear
Transmission: respiratory secretions, saliva (kissing disease - common in teens/young adults)
Clinical: mononucleosis (fever, hepatosplenomegaly, pharyngitis, lymphadenopathy esp posterior cervical LNs); avoid contact sports until resolution due to risk of splenic rupture; associated with lymphomas (eg endemic Burkitt lymphoma), nasopharyngeal carcinoma
Infects BCs through CD21.
Atypical lymphocytes on peripheral blood smear - not infected BCs but reactive CTCs
+ monospot test - heterophile Ab detected by agglutination of sheep or horse RBCs
Cytomegalovirus (HHV-5)
Enveloped, DNA, linear
Transmission: congenital, transfusion, sexual contact, saliva, urine, transplant
Clinical: mononucleosis in immunocompotent pts (monospot -), infection in immunocompromised pts (esp pneumonia in transplant pts), AIDS retinitis (sightomegalovirus), hemorrhage, cotton-wool exudates, vision loss; Congenital CMV
Infected cells have characteristic “owl eye” inclusions. Latent in mononuclear cells
Human herpes virus 6&7
Enveloped, DNA, linear
Transmission: saliva
Clinical: Roseola infantum (exanthem subitum): high fevers for several days that can cause seizures, followed by diffuse macular rash
HHV-7-less common cause of roseola
Human herpesvirus 8
Enveloped, DNA, linear
Transmission: sexual contact
Clinical: Kaposi sarcoma (neoplasm of endothelial cells). Seen in HIV/AIDS and transplant pts. Dark/violaceous plaques or nodules representing vascular proliferation so
Can also affect GI & lungs
HSV identification
Viral culture for skin/genitalia
CSF PCR for herpes encephalitis
Tzanck test (Tzank heavens I do not have herpes) - a smear of an opened skin vesicle to detect multinucleated giant cells commonly seen in HSV-1,2 & VZV infection
Intramuscular inclusions also seen in 1,2&VZV
Receptor used by CMV
Integrity (heparin sulfate)
Receptor used by EBV
CD21
Receptor used by HIV
CD4, CXCR4, CCR5
Receptor used by Rabies
Nicotinic AChR
Receptor used by Rhinovirus
ICAM-1
RNA viruses: Reovirus
Envelope: No
RNA structure: DS linear, 10-12 segments
Capsid: Icosahedral (double)
Medical: Coltivirus (Colorado tick fever); rotavirus (number one cause of fatal diarrhea in children)
RNA viruses: Picornavirus
Envelope: No
RNA structure: SS + linear
Capsid: Icosahedral
Medical: (PERCH) - Poliovirus (polio-Salk/Sabin vaccines-IPV/OPV); Echovirus (aseptic meningitis); Rhinovirus (common cold); Coxsackievirus (aseptic meningitis; herpangina-mouth blisters, fever; hand foot and mouth disease; myocarditis, pericarditis); HAV (acute viral hepatitis)
RNA viruses: Hepevirus
Envelope: No
RNA structure: SS + linear
Capsid: Icosahedral
Medical: HEV
RNA viruses: Caliciviruses
Envelope: No
RNA structure: SS + linear
Capsid: Iscosahedral
Medical: Norovirus (viral gastroenteritis)
RNA viruses: flavivirus
Envelope: Yes
RNA structure: SS + linear
Capsid: Icosahedral
Medical: HCV; yellow fever, Dengue, St. Louis encephalitis, West Nile virus
RNA viruses: Toga virus
Envelope: Yes
RNA structure: SS + linear
Capsid: Icosahedral
Medical: Rubella, Eastern equine encephalitis, Western equine encephalitis
RNA viruses: Retrovirus
Envelope: yes
RNA structure: SS + linear, 2 copies
Capsid: Icosahedral (HTLV), complex and conical (HIV)
Medical: have reverse transcriptase, HTLV (TC leukemia); HIV/AIDS
RNA viruses: Coronavirus
Envelope: yes
RNA structure: SS + linear
Capsid: helical
Medical: Common cold, SARS, MERS