Virology Test 1 Flashcards
What is virology?
Study of viruses and viral diseases
What is a virologist?
Someone who studies viruses
Why is the study of veterinary virology important?
Viruses cause high mortality and morbidity
Viral diseases cause tremendous financial losses to livestock and poultry industries, hampering the economic development of a country
Some are zoonotic
What are characteristics of viruses?
Non-living
Nucleic acid genome surrounded by a protein coat
Do not possess standard cellular organisms
Cannot make own energy or proteins
All are obligate intracellular parasites
Cannot multiply by division - replication resembles an assembly line
What is a virion?
A complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA core with a protein coat sometimes with external envelopes and that is the extracellular infective form of a virus
What is a virus?
Broad general term used to describe the infectious agent and includes: the infectious virion or inactivated virus particle, or viral nucleic acid and protein in the infected cell
What is a viroid?
An infectious particle smaller than any known viruses, an agent of certain plant diseases. The particle consists only of an extremely small circular RNA molecule, lacking the protein coat of a virus
What did Edward Jenner do for the world?
Inoculated some cowpox repeatedly into arms of a healthy 8 year old boy who became immune and did not succumb to small pox.
Vaccination - comes from the Latin word “vacca” meaning cow
What did Louis Pasteur do for the world?
Injected dried, potassium hydroxide treated, infected rabbit brain material in two boys bitten by rabid dogs and both recovered
What is the Chamberland filter?
Filter that had pores smaller than bacteria.
Pioneered the discovery of viruses. Used in the famous tobacco mosaic virus experiment
What was the tobacco mosaic experiment?
Diseased tobacco leaves were crushed and passed through the Chamberland filter -> the cell debris was placed on a healthy leaf -> remained healthy
->the cell filtrate was placed on a healthy leaf-> leaf died
What did Friedrick Loeffler and Paul Frosch do for the world?
Passed the first animal virus through a Chamberland filter and discovered the cause of foot-and-mouth disease (Foot-and-mouth disease virus)
What did Walter Reed do for the world?
Discovered yellow fever is transmitted through mosquitoes
What about Peyton Rous?
Isolated the first tumor-causing animal virus (oncogenes viruses). Of course named the Rous sarcoma virus.
And Ernst Ruska and Max Knoll did what?
Invented the electron microscope
What was the first virus successfully propagated in embryonated hen’s egg?
Fowlpoxvirus
Sanford et all did what in history?
Culture of isolated mammalian cells
Enders et all did?
Growth of poliovirus in cell culture
Bulbecco and Vogt did what?
Plaque assay for the first animal virus - poliovirus
The only animal disease declared globally eradicated
Rinderpest
What is the smallest animal virus?
Porcine circovirus type 1
Largest animal, human and bird virus?
Poxvirus (200 nm diameter and 300 nm in length)
What shape is Ebolavirus?
Filament-shaped
What shape is Rabies virus?
Bullet shaped
What shape is Tobacco Mosaic virus?
Rod-shaped
What shape is Poxvirus?
Brick-shaped
What shape is Rotavirus?
Spherical
What is pleomorphism?
The ability of some viruses to alter their shape or size
What are some common methods used to determine morphology of viruses?
Electron Microscopy (EM)
Cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM)
X-ray crystallography
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR)
What are general components of a virus?
DNA or RNA genes
Capsid
Envelope (fat bubble)
Molecules of protein
What is a capsid?
Protein shell that encases/envelopes the viral nucleic acid or genome.
Made up of capsomeres.
Most viruses have one capsid except Reoviruses which have a double layered capsid.
What is a capsomere?
Basic subunit protein in the capsid
What is a nucleocapsid?
Capsid + virus nucleic acid (DNA or RNA)/Genome
What is helical symmetry?
In all animal viruses, the Helical nucleocapsid is enclosed within a lipoprotein envelope. Naked helical nucleocapsids are common among plant viruses.
What is cubic/Icosahedral symmetry?
Two types of capsomeres are present in icosahedral capsids -> pentagonal (pentons) capsomeres at the vertices and hexagonal capsomeres making up the facets (hexons).
True/False: There are always 12 pentons but the number of hexons changes with the viral size.
True
ALWAYS 12
What is the triangulation number and how is it calculated?
Describes the relationship between the numbers of pentons and hexons in an icosahedron.
T=h2 + h * k + k2
True/False: Icosahedrals can be naked or enveloped?
True
Name that virus: T=1, simplest icosahedron, capsid consists of 60 copies of CP proteins.
Parvovirus
Name that virus: Outer capsid has a T=13 icosahedral symmetry and the inner has a capsid T=2.
Reoviridae
Which virus has a complex capsid symmetry?
Pox virus
What are the functions of the viral capsid?
Responsible for the structural symmetry of the virus particle.
Encases and protects the nucleic acid from enzymes, chemicals and physical conditions.
Receptor attachment proteins for attachment to specific receptors on host cells.
Interact with host cell membrane to form the envelope.
Uncoating of genome in host cell.
Transport viral genome to appropriate side.
Facilitates packaging of the nucleic acid genome.
Contains antigenic sites which determines antigenicity of virus.
What is the envelope?
Lipid bilayer with embedded proteins.
Acquired by budding of viral nucleocapsid through a cellular membrane (nucleus, golgi, cytoplasmic)
Two kinds of viral proteins in the envelope
Glycoproteins
Matrix protein
Two glycoproteins in a virus envelope
External glycoproteins
Channel proteins
What are external glycoproteins?
Major antigens of the virus
Function as hemagglutination, receptor binding, antigenicity and membrane fusion
What are channel proteins?
Mostly hydrophobic proteins, form a protein lined channel through the envelope
Alters permeability
Important in modifying the internal environment
What are the virus envelope matrix proteins?
Proteins that link the internal nucleocapsid to the lipid membrane envelope.
Have a crucial role in Virus Assembly.
Stabilization of the lipid envelope.
Serve as recognition site of nucleocapsid at the plasma membrane and mediates the encapidation of the RNA-nucleoprotein cores into the membrane envelope.
What is the envelope, how is it acquired and maintained?
Bi-layer
Acquired from cell membrane of host (cytoplasmic, nuclear, ER)
Maintained only in aqueous or moist environments.
Is sensitive to desiccation, heat, and pH changes.
Can be inactive by dissolution of lipid membrane with lipid solvents such as: ether, chloroform, sodium deoxycholate, detergents.
Enveloped viruses are easier to sterilize than non-enveloped viruses and cannot survive for longer periods in the environment.
Which of the following is not a component of a virus? A. Nucleic Acid B. Capsid C. Envelope D. Capsule
Capsule
True/False: The viral matrix protein is located between the viral nucleic acid (DNA/RNA) and the capsid.
False
Are viral nucleic acids DNA or RNA? Are they ss or ds?
Can be any
Antigenic drift results in ________
Mutations
What is recombination?
The exchange of nucleotide sequences between different, but usually closely related, viruses during replication. Occurs in a single gene segment.
What is the most important mechanism for high genetic diversity in viruses with segmented genome?
Reassortment
Only in viruses with more than one gene segment, i.e. Only in viruses with segmented genome/RNA/DNA.
What is retroviral integrase?
Enzyme produced by a retrovirus (such as HIV) that enables it’s genetic material to be integrated into the DNA of the infected cell
What is reverse transcriptase (RT)?
Enzyme used to generate complementary DNA (cDNA) from a RNA template.
What is nucleic acid polymerase?
Viral genome replication
What are viral nonstructural proteins?
Proteins that may play roles within the infected cell during virus replication or act in regulation of virus replication or virus assembly
True/False: Nonstructural proteins are seen in the extracellular virions?
False
What are incomplete virions?
Virions without nucleic acid [empty capsid]
What are defective virions?
A virus that cannot replicate because it lacks a full complement/copy of viral genes. Defective viral particles result from mutations or errors in the production or assembly of virions.
What are pseudovirions?
Contains non-viral genome within the viral capsid, such as host nucleic acid instead of viral nucleic acid
What are pseudotypes?
When related viruses infect the same cell, the genome of one virus may be enclosed in the heterologous capsid of the second virus
An incomplete virion is composed of ___ _____
Only capsid
What is the Baltimore classification system?
Viruses are classified into one of the seven groups depending on a combination of their nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), strandness (ss or ds), sense and method of replication. An old system that isn’t currently used.
What is the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Classification System?
ICTV is the only body charged by the International Union of Microbiological Societies with the task of developing, refining, and maintaining a universal virus taxonomy. The currently used to classify viruses
How does the ICTV classify viruses?
Nature of the virus genome and virus genetic diversity.
Virus replication strategies.
Virus morphology.
How are the viruses ordered using the ICTV classification system?
Order (-virales) Family (-viridae) Subfamily (-virinae) Genus (-virus) Species
The family of a virus is denoted by suffix ____
Viridae
True/False: viruses have the genetic capability to multiply by division
False, they do not have the ability.
Outside of the host, they are inert/dormant particles.
What does the virus need to replicate and generate next progeny of viruses?
Living host cell.
What happens inside of the host cell?
Virus hijacks and uses the host cell machinery to produce its proteins and nucleic acid for the next generation of virus
What are the possibly ways to grow/cultivate viruses?
Cell/tissue culture
Inoculation in embryonated eggs
Lab animals
What are monolayer cultures?
When the bottom of the culture vessel is covered with a continuous layer of cells, usually one cell in thickness, they are referred to as monolayer cultures
What is a primary cell culture?
Maintenance of growth of cells dissociated directly from the parental tissue.
Best culture system for isolation and propagation of viruses.
Used in producing viral vaccines.
What is a subculture (or passage)?
Transfer of cells from one culture vessel to another culture vessel.
This is periodically required to provide fresh nutrients and growing space for continuously growing cell lines.
What are the two types of cell lines?
Finite/Dipoid Cell lines
Continuous cell lines
What are finite/diploid cell lines?
Cell lines which have a limited life span and go through a limited number of cell generations.
Derived mainly from embryos; or from secondary cultures.
Can be used for vaccine production
What are continuous cell lines?
Acquire the ability to divide indefinitely. Derived directly from cancer cells.
FDA prohibits their use in vax productions.
What is culture medium?
Provides all necessary nutrients (amino acids, inorganic salts, vitamins and glucose) required for growth of cells
Why is serum in culture media important?
Required for growth and maintenance of cells. Helps in cell adhesion, regulate cell membrane and permeability and provide nutrients.
What is phenol red pH indicator?
Indicates change in pH by changing color of medium from red to orange or yellow
Why is the carbon dioxide level important in growing viruses?
It is necessary to use exogenous CO2 when using media buffered with a CO2-bicarbonate based buffer to maintain pH of the medium.
Why are antimicrobial agents used in culture?
To prevent contamination with bacteria, mycoplasma, yeast, molds, etc
What is trypsin used for?
Proteolytic enzyme used to detach and dissociate cells while subculture grew
What is the cytopathic or cytopathogenic effect?
Damage or morphological changes to host cells during virus invasion
Where are the locations within the egg that can be inoculated?
Yolk sac
Allantoic cavity
Amniotic cavity
Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM)
Inside of the egg, what are signs of virus growth?
Death of embryo
Paralysis (sluggish movement)
Stunted growth
Pocks on CAM
How else can viruses be grown in a lab?
Lab animal inoculation
What is an ultracentrifuge?
Used for concentration and purification of viruses. Have played a virtual role in virology, efficiently sediments even the smallest viruses.
What is rate-zonal centrifugation?
Ultracentrifugation method for purification and concentration of viruses. Separation of virus particles based on their mass. Under centrifugal force, particles move at different rates depending on their mass.
What is isopycnic centrifugation?
AKA buoyant or equilibrium separation, particles are separated solely on the basis of they buoyant density
True/False: you can use virus purification with membrane chromatography to purify viruses.
True
I basically gave that one to you
What is virus quantification?
Counts the number of viruses in a specific volume to determine the virus concentration
What is a virus titer?
Lowest concentration of virus that still infects cells. Also defined as the number of infectious units per mL of sample.
What is the biological quantification test?
Depends on a virus particle initiating a successful replication cycle.
Plaque Assays
Pock assays
Various endpoint titration methods
What is the physical quantification test?
Does not depend on any biological activity of a virus particle.
Electron microscopic particle counts Hemagglutination Immunological assays, ELISA Quantitative PCR assay Flow cytometry
What are the two ways of direct counting of viral particles in a solution?
Direct by transmission electron microscopy (TEM): the most direct method to determine the [virus particle] in a solution
Virus counter 2100
Is hemagglutination assay a physical or biological test? What is it based on?
Physical; [antigen]
Is single radial immunodiffusion (SRID) and physical or biological test? What is it based on?
Physical; [antigen]
Is Quantitative PCR (qPCR) a physical or biological test? What is it based on?
Physical; gene expression
What are the biological assays?
Monolayer plaque assay
Pock Assay
Transformation assay
Quintal assay
Monolayer plaque assay: what is a plaque and what is the unit associated with this assay?
A circular zone of necrotic cells surrounded by viable cells in a monolayer.
Unit: plaque-forming units/mL (PFU). Measures the number of virus particles capable of forming plaques per unit of volume. Ex. If a solution has a PFU of 1000 PFU/mL, then every mL of solution contains enough virus to form 1000 plaques
Pock assay: what is a pock and what is the unit of measure associated with this assay?
Pock: necrotic area on chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of embryonated egg
Unit: pock-forming units/mL
What is the transformation assay and what unit is involved in this assay?
Quantitative determination of titers of oncogenic viruses
Unit: focus-forming units/mL
What is important about the quantal assay?
Endpoint: virus dilution that affects 50% of the test subjects
What is the TCID50?
The tissue culture infectious dose which will infect 50% of the cell monolayer challenged with the defined inoculum
A 300 PFU/mL means what?
The minimum # of viruses present/mL of the sample to form 300 plaques in a monolayer cell culture
What is a permissive cell?
A cell in which a virus is able to replicate, i.e. The cell machinery supports replication of the virus
What is a non-permissive cell?
Cells in which a factor necessary for viral reproduction is not present or one detrimental to viral reproduction is not present. E.g. Absence of appropriate receptors
What is MOI (Multiplicity of infection)?
The number of virions that are added per cell during infection
What is the latent period?
After uncoating and until just before the 1st appearance of extracellular new virus particles.
Or the time before new infectious virus appears in the medium i.e. The time from uncoating to just prior to the release of the first extracellular virions. During this phase no extracellular virions are detected
What is the eclipse period?
After uncoating and until just before 1st appearance of intracellular new virus particles
Or the time interval between uncoating (“disappearance” of viruses) and appearance, intracellularly, of first infectious progeny virions
What is adsorption?
During this period, the virus attaches to and enters cells and the titer of free virus in the medium may actually decline.
What is burst size?
Number of infectious virions release per average cell
True/false: Virus attachment to receptor on host cell is non-specific.
False, very specific. Each virus has its own specific receptor(s) on specific host cells
What is the first step to virus replication?
Attachment to host cell surface
Mediated by interactions between the virus and complimentary receptor on the hose cell surface. Cell that lack the appropriate receptor escape being infected by viruses. In some cases, binding to a cellular receptor is not sufficient for infection: an additional cell surface molecule, or co-receptor, is required for entry.
Can viruses use more than one host cell receptor?
Yes
HIV for example.
What is a co-receptor?
Binding to a cellular receptor is not sufficient for infection. An additional cells surface molecule, or co-receptor, is required for entry
True/False: viruses can enter the host cell using any receptor present on surface of host cell.
False, need specific receptors
What is the next step in viral replication?
Penetration and Uncoating
How do nonenveloped/naked viruses penetrate the host cell?
Receptor mediated endocytosis (common)
Pore mediated penetration of viral genome into host cell
In many non-enveloped viruses, Clathrin-mediated endocytosis or any other receptor-mediated endocytosis of virus.
How to enveloped viruses penetrate the host cell?
Surface membrane fusion (have pH independent Fusion proteins) - Here fusion of virus envelope with host cell membrane occurs directly on surface of host cell. Facilitated by pH independent fusion protein.
Receptor mediated endocytosis (have pH dependent Fusion proteins) - Fusion of virus membrane with host endosomal membrane release viral genome. The fusion protein requires low pH to get activated, which is achieved in endosome and facilitate virus envelope fusion with endosomal membrane.
How do others penetrate, or other uncommon methods of entry?
Antibody-mediated attachment and penetration
Ex FIPV
Is exocytosis a method of penetrating into the host cell?
No
What is uncoating?
Release of viral genome in host cell
Virion can no longer be detected - loss of infectivity
What are the two functions of parent viruses?
- Multiple copies for new viruses (children/progeny)
2. Viral proteins for capsid and successful replication
What is reverse transcriptase?
Conversion of viral RNA to cDNA during virus replication
What happens during the processing of primary RNA transcript?
Viral mRNA must conform to the requirements of host cell translation system (the host cell can recognize the mRNA and translate same).
A series of modifications occur, known as Processing of Primary RNA Transcript/Pre-RNA. 1. Capping. 2. Addition of Poly-A tail. 3. Splicing
After, mRNAs are translated in the cytoplasm
Viral mRNAs produced in the nucleus must also be exported to the cytoplasm
What is the first modification that occurs during RNA transcript?
Capping - addition of 7- methylguanosine to the 5’ end of RNA
What is the second modification?
Addition of 3’ poly-adenylated tails
What is the third modification to RNA transcript?
Splicing - Process that removes introns and joins exon in a primary transcript
What is an exon?
Portion of a genera that codes for amino acids
What is an intron?
Portion of a gene that does not code for amino acids
True/false: the poly-A tail is added to the 3’-end of viral mRNA.
True
What are the two types of viral mRNA?
Monocistronic: mRNA that encodes one polypeptide
Polycistronic: mRNA that encodes several polypeptides
What is assembly and maturation part of viral replication?
Assembly of virus genome and proteins into new virions follow a specific order.
All components, including nucleic acids and proteins, are packaged to form mature virions.
May take place in nucleus, cytoplasm, plasma/cell membrane
There are two types of progeny virions that can be released. What are they?
Naked virions - lysis of host cell, cannot exit host by budding since they lack an envelope
Enveloped virions - budding from host cell