Virology Chapter 2-3: General Features of Virus Replication Cycle Flashcards
What do viruses need from cells to replicate their genome and synthesize their proteins?
cellular ribosomes, ATP, tRNA, amino acids, etc.
depending on the particular virus, it may use cellular DNA and RNA polymerases, or it may have its own
Key Features of Virus Replication – Overview
- Virus particle attaches to host cell
- Genome enters host cell
- Genome is replicated and transcribed in the cytoplasm or nucleus (depends on the virus), and mRNA is translated on ribosomes in the cytoplasm
- Protein components self-assemble and associate with a copy of the replicated genome
- Virus particle leaves the cell by budding or lysis of the plasma membrane
Attachment to Host Cell – Overview
- Virus adsorbs to host cell
2. Specific binding of proteins on outside of virus particle, to host cell surface molecule
What causes attachment of virus to host cell?
random collisions between virus particles and host cells – does not require energy
reversible step
What is the host cell surface molecule (VIRUS RECEPTOR) that proteins on the outside of the virus particle binds to?
can be a protein, lipid, or carbohydrate portion of glycoprotein or glycolipid – involved in some normal function of the cell
What is the host range determined by?
- partly by whether cells express the virus receptor
- presence of complementary structure on virus surface (anti-receptor)
- whether host has proper intracellular factors (ie. polymerases) to allow replication and expression of the virus genome
What does HIV virus bind to?
CD4 protein – primarily found on helper T cells, and some macrophages
Susceptible vs. Permissive
susceptible: virus can infect the cell
permissive: virus can replicate in the cell
How might a cell become resistant to viral infection?
mutation in the virus receptor on host cell surface
however, viral receptors are often proteins that are essential for cell survival, and cannot easily be altered without harming the cell
What is a major strategy for preventing viral disease?
preventing virus attachment
How do vaccines prevent virus attachment to host cell?
vaccines induce production of neutralizing antibodies in the host
- antibodies bind to anti-receptor on virus surface and block binding of virus to viral receptor on host cell
What is the anti-receptor?
structure of the virus that binds to virus receptor on host cell surface
When would vaccination not be useful?
if viral anti-receptor mutates at a high rate (ie. influenza) – antibodies induced by vaccination would not be useful against this modified virus
What is an alternative method for preventing viral diseases?
block viral attachment with antibodies against the host cell’s virus receptors
however, an antibody against a host cell protein could alter the cell’s normal function, or disrupt important interactions with other cells
Does virus entry require energy?
yes
Do all viruses enter the host cell in the same way?
no – different mechanisms for a virus (or only its genome) to enter host cell
but for any given virus, the same method is always used
What are 4 examples of ways different viruses enter the genome?
- receptor-mediated endocytosis, followed by coating of the genome when the capsid breaks apart
- receptor-mediated endocytosis, followed by genome release by pore formation in endosome membrane
- receptor-mediated endocytosis, followed by fusion of endosome membrane and virus envelope
- fusion of virus envelope with plasma membrane
What are segmented genomes in some RNA viruses?
entire genome is contained in several molecules of RNA
What are the 2 functions of the viral genome that enters the host cell?
- used as template for synthesis of viral genomes for progeny virus
- used to synthesize viral mRNA so that viral proteins can be synthesized
What are the complementary strands of a double-stranded nucleic acid?
(+) strand
(-) strand
What type of strand is mRNA?
(+) strand
contains immediately translatable information
Are single-stranded RNA viruses (+) or (-) strand?
can be either – depends on whether RNA can be directly translated by ribosomes
What is a (+) strand RNA virus?
contains coding sequence that specifies amino acids of the protein
What is a (-) strand RNA virus?
cannot be used directly as the mRNA – must produce complementary (+) sequence, which will serve as the mRNA
What does the steps and enzymes involved in viral replication depend on?
type of nucleic acid the virus packs
What enzymes do DNA viruses use to replicate? Where do they obtain it?
DNA polymerase
some viruses use host cell DNA polymerase, some use their own (pre-made)