Viruses Flashcards
Identification
What is the first discovered virus? Who discovered it?
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)
Dmitri Ivanovsky
Define
What is a virus?
- obligatory intracellular parasites
Extra
* macromolecular aggregates
* composed of inanimate particles that by themselves, cannot reproduce, metabolize, or carry functions associated with life.
Explain
Are viruses alive?
It depends!
* Outside hosts: virion, inert/inactive
* Once they enter the body, they begin to display the characteristics of life (reproduction, evolution)
Identification
Virus particle when found outside hosts
Virion
List
Viral characteristics
4
- Has a nucleic acid that functions as their genome (DNA or RNA)
- Has a capsid: Protein coat/shell that encloses genome
- Capsid can be enclosed within an outer envelope made up of lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates and taken from the host cells
- Have surface proteins along its surface
Identification
subunits that compose capsid
Capsomeres
Identification
capsid + viral genome (DNA/RNA)
nucleocapsid
Identification
- allows virus to interact with receptor proteins in their host cell → leads to infection
- determine the virus targets since they interact with specific receptors on the surface of their host cells
surface proteins
Identification
What is the spike in SARS-Cov-2 (causes COVID-19)?
Spike glycoproteins
Identification
In SARS-Cov-2 (causes COVID-19), what enzyme does its spike bind to?
angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2)
Identification
What are the 4 key characteristics for viral classification?
according to the video
- Genetic material
- Target host
- Capsid shape
- Enzymes they produce
Explain
What is the difference between an enveloped vs a naked virus?
Enveloped virus: nucleocapsid + outer envelope + spikes + surface proteins that help virus adhere to host
Naked virus: nucleocapsid + surface proteins
Identification
What is the virus with the most base pairs? How many base pairs does it have?
Pandoravirus, 2.74M base pairs
List
What are the different characteristics of the genetic material in a virus?
3
- Single-stranded/Double-stranded
- Linear/Circular/Segmented (Arrangement)
- Plus Sense/Minus Sense
T/F [Bonus: If false, what is wrong?]
In viruses, DNA can be single-stranded.
True
Although DNA is usually attributed as double-stranded, it can be single-stranded too.
Note: RNA can ONLY be single-stranded
List
How can viruses be arranged? What are these arrangements similar to?
3
- Linear: like humans
- Circular: like bacteria
- Segmented: Unique to Influenza