Virology - general, replication Flashcards
Virus size range from
10 to 1000 nm in size
Genome size range
from 3000 nucleotides to >1,000,000 base pairs
viral Replication cycle time frame
from minutes to days
Explain Retrograde evolution theory
Intracellular parasites lost the ability for independent metabolism keeping only those genes necessary for replication
Explain this viral evolution theory: Origin from cellular DNA and RNA components
Some DNA genomes resemble plasmids or episomes.
Maybe this DNA acquired protein coats and the ability to be transferred from cell to cell efficiently
Explain viral evolution theory:
Descendants of primitive precellular life forms
Viruses originated and evolved along with primitive, self-replicating molecules
Name the 3 viral evolution theories.
retrograde evolution
origin from DNA/RNA components
descendents of primitive life forms
define variolation
obsolete method of immunizing patients against smallpox by infecting them with substance from the pustules of patients with a mild form of the disease
aka inoculation
Who was Edward Jenner?
was an English physician who observed that dairymaids who had had cowpox did not get small pox.
and pioneered the concept of vaccines
what is a Chamberland filter
also known as a Pasteur–Chamberland filter, is a porcelain water filter invented by Charles Chamberland in 1884.
Pasteur found that rabies passed through it
what is an eclipse period
The time between infection by (or induction of) a bacteriophage, or other virus, and the appearance of mature virus within the cell.
What is the baltimore system?
Baltimore classification is a system used to classify viruses based on their manner of messenger RNA (mRNA) synthesis.
By organizing viruses based on their manner of mRNA production, it is possible to study viruses that behave similarly as a distinct group.
Virion
a complete virus with all the components needed for host cell infection
Virion is different from a virus. It is a virus in an extracellular phase.
Capsid
the protein shell of a virus particle surrounding its nucleic acid
Capsid + genome =
nucleocapsid
By definition, nucleocapsid is a viral protein coat that surrounds the genome (either DNA or RNA). N
Ø NB! Only as a substructure!
viral envelope
A viral envelope is the outermost layer of many types of viruses. It protects the genetic material in their life cycle when traveling between host cells.
surrounds the nucleocapsid
Protein spikes
a spike protein is a protein that forms a large structure known as a spike projecting from the surface of an enveloped virus. The proteins are usually glycoproteins.
helps to attach to the host cell
icosahedral definition
is a polyhedron with 20 faces
Icosahedron = polygon
with 20 faces, each an
equilateral triangle
how many types of viral genome?
7 types of viral genome
- ds DNA
- ss (+) sense DNA
- ds RNA
- ss (+) sense RNA
- ss (-) sense RNA
- ss (+) sense RNA with DNA intermediate in lifecycle
- ds DNA with RNA intermediate
define capsomere
is a subunit of the capsid, an outer covering of protein that protects the genetic material of a virus. Capsomeres self-assemble to form the capsid.
What is the difference between a viral envelope and a capsid?
Envelope and capsid are two structural parts in viruses. Capsid is the protein shell which surrounds the viral genome.
Envelope is the lipid membrane acquired by the viruses from the host cells. It covers the nucleocapsid.
not all viruses have envelopes but essentailly all have capsids
in which direction do positive sense strands code?
5’-3’
in which direction do negative sense strands code?
3’-5’
another name for sense strand
coding strand
carries the translatable code in the 5′ to 3′ direction
The main difference between sense and antisense strand is that sense strand is incapable of being transcribed into mRNA whereas antisense strand serves as the template for the transcription.
another name for antisense strand
template strand
is directed in the 5’ to 3’ direction.
The main difference between sense and antisense strand is that sense strand is incapable of being transcribed into mRNA whereas antisense strand serves as the template for the transcription.
describe the lytic viral lifecycle
In a lytic cycle, the virus introduces its genome into a host cell and initiates replication by hijacking the host’s cellular machinery to make new copies of the virus.
Once infection is complete, the newly replicated and assembled virus particles are released through lysis of the host cell into the surrounding waters.
is also commonly referred to as the “reproductive cycle” of the bacteriophage, is a six-stage cycle. The six stages are: attachment, penetration, transcription, biosynthesis, maturation, and lysis.
describe the lysogenic viral lifecycle
lysogenic cycle: The phage infects a bacterium and inserts its DNA into the bacterial chromosome, allowing the phage DNA (now called a prophage) to be copied and passed on along with the cell’s own DNA.
instead of killing the host, the phage genome integrates into the bacterial chromosome and becomes part of the host.
Viral DNA multiplies as the host cell multiplies. Each new daughter cell created is infected with the virus’ DNA.
define non-covalent
a non-covalent interaction differs from a covalent bond in that it does not involve the sharing of electrons, but rather involves more dispersed variations of electromagnetic interactions between molecules or within a molecule.
define Quasi-equivalence
quasiequivalent = Very similar, but different.
can be defined as the extent of similarity between these structurally unique environments occupied by the chemically identical subunits in the virus capsid.
Quasi-equivalent capsids should contain 60T subunits, however, there are exceptions.
The conceptual basis for viral quasi-equivalence is the interchangeable formation of hexamers and pentamers by the same protein molecule
define pentamer & hexamer
A pentamer is an entity composed of five sub-unit
hexamer is an oligomer having six subunits; A subunit of a viral capsid.
What are the 5 steps of the virus replication cycle?
- Attachment
- Penetration or viral entry
- Synthesis (replication)
- Assembly
- Release
cellualr receptors are needed for all viruses except for what 2 exceptions and why?
except for fungi and plant viruses because they enter the cells by mechanical damage so no receptors needed.
How many receptors does a virus need to bind in order to enter a cell?
2-3 receptors
but some require up to 5 like the polio virus
what was the first cell receptor to be discovered?
sialic acid receptor for the influenza virus
What are the 2 methods of viral entry?
- fusion with the membrane (only enveloped viruses)
- endocytosis of various kinds (both enveloped and non-enveloped)