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Viruses Flashcards

1
Q

Viruses

A

Organic particles that exist on border of considered life

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2
Q

How big are viruses and how do we view them

A

20-400 nm
Electron microscope

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3
Q

Acellular

A

Don’t have cells

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4
Q

Characteristics of life viruses have

A

Can evolve, reproduce, interact with environment

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5
Q

Characteristics of life that viruses don’t have

A

Don’t contain cells, grow, use nutrients or release waste

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6
Q

Capsid

A

Protein capsule that surrounds nucleus acid/enzymes of virus
Made of repeating proteins

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7
Q

Core

A

Inside of capsid
Contains salt solution like cytoplasm

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8
Q

Nucleic acid

A

Hereditary material used to make new viral proteins inside host
Contains DNA or RNA (not both)

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9
Q

DNA

A

Benefit of being more stable + allowing more complex genetics

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10
Q

RNA

A

Benefit of making proteins easier + having higher mutation rate

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11
Q

Mutation rate

A

Makes viruses more adaptable

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12
Q

Enzymes

A

Used for helping viruses replicate in cell

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13
Q

Transcriptase

A

Enzymes which decode viral RNA to make viral proteins

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14
Q

RNAses

A

Enzymes that destroy host RNA so viral proteins have higher priority

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15
Q

Polymerases

A

Make copies of RNA or DNA from viral template so viral replication can occur

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16
Q

Envelope

A

Cell membrane that surrounds capsid
Taken from host cell

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17
Q

Surface proteins

A

Part of virus to identify/ invade host cells

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18
Q

Antigens

A

Result of surface proteins triggering an immune response
Antibody generator

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19
Q

Bacteriophages

A

Viruses that only infect bacterial cells
Have unique shape

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20
Q

Head/sheath of bacteriophages

A

Head- capsid containing nucleic acid
Tail- contains sheath/attachment site for injecting nucleic acid into bacteria

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21
Q

Viral replication pathway

A

A way which a virus duplicates it’s nucleic acid
Starts when virus interacts with host cell

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22
Q

4 steps of viral replication pathway

A

Entrance/assembly
Synthesis
Assembly/packing
Release

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23
Q

Entrance

A

The injection of nucleic acid or entire virion into host cell

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24
Q

Synthesis

A

Hijack host cell organelles
Use host cells for protein synthesis/nutrients

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25
Assembly
Brings together capsid proteins, nucleic acid, and sometimes enzymes
26
Release
Consists of either lysis or budding of the virions
27
Lysis
Rupturing of host cell + release of new virus Results in 100-300 new virions Virulent
28
Virulent
Cause damage to cells/organs
29
Budding
Produces virions that bud from host cell, taking cell membrane to form envelopes
30
Pathway that doesn’t perform lysis
Lysogenic
31
Prophages
Viral nucleic acid that inserts into host DNA + acts as extra set of genes
32
Temperate
Viruses that use lysogenic cycle Ex. Herpes
33
Retroviruses
RNA viruses that carry enzyme called reverse transcriptase to convert RNA into DNA Ex. HIV
34
Latency
Stage prophage enters after inserting into DNA Does not produce new virions
35
Sources of stress for prophages
Changes in temperature Nutrient availability If cell has been damaged
36
Pathogen
Organism that causes disease
37
Host
Species in which pathogen causes disease
38
Pathogenesis
Process through which a pathogen causes disease
39
Broad host range
Range in which species can infect many different species Ex. Influenza
40
Narrow host range
Range in which viruses infect few species Ex. HIV
41
3 ways viruses spread between host cell
Aerosol Fecal-oral Vectors
42
Aerosol cord uses
Spread by microscopic air droplets Ex. COVID, influenza
43
Fecal-oral viruses
Stabilized by feces until they contact new host cell Ex. Norovirus, pink eye
44
Arboviruses
Require non-host species to spread them Spread by vectors Ex. West Nile, zika, dengue
45
Vectors
Organisms that harbour pathogens without being infected themselves Ex. Mosquito
46
Reservoir species
Host species that virus is best adapted to
47
Incidental species
Host species which can be infected but with lower efficiency
48
2 evolutionary ideas
Regression Virus first
49
Virus first theory
All modern viruses are descendants of first life on earth RNA world-viruses dominant
50
Regression theory
Originated from parasitic bacteria cells Lost genes no longer necessary because host now sustains them
51
Regression strengths
Evolve to increase reproductive genes
52
Co evolution
2 species affecting each others evolution
53
What AOE does co evolution favor
Natural selection/lower virulence
54
Physical barriers
Body’s first line of defence against pathogens
55
Physical barriers examples
Skin Mucus
56
Innate defenses
Cells/chemicals that destroy pathogens after physical barriers breached Target all pathogens Main innate defence
57
Leukocytes
White blood cells; cells of immune system
58
Mast cells
Detect pathogen and release chemical messengers: histamine, prostaglandin
59
Histamine
Triggers blood vessel walls to stretch diameter (vasodilation) resulting in low blood pressure
60
Prostaglandin
Causes pain sensation alerting host to infection and making it rest to conserve nutrients
61
Macrophages
Pass through blood vessels into the tissue and specialize in phagocytosis
62
Phagocytosis
Process of consuming/destroying foreign materials in blood
63
NK cells
Search for infected host cells and causes Apoptosis
64
Adaptive defence
Responsible for destroying pathogens that beat innate defences Only target one particular pathogen
65
Lymphocytes
Cells of adaptive immune system
66
B cells
Produce antibodies
67
Antibodies
Hunt down/bind to pathogens making it easier for macrophages to destroy them
68
T cells
Find/destroy infected host cells
69
Memory B/T cells
Remain long term to provide immunity against repeat infection
70
Vaccines
Substances used to produce long term immunity
71
Lymphocytes
Start adaptive immune response
72
Antigen
Most important component of every vaccine What body develops immunity to
73
Suspending fluid
Water/saline solution used to keep antigen stable
74
Preservatives
Used to stabilize vaccine and help retain potency over time Ex. Glycine, albumin
75
Single valent vaccines
Protect 1 strain
76
Multivalent vaccine
Protect multiple strains
77
Thimerosal
Mercury-containing organic compound effective at preventing contamination by fungi/bacteria Stabilizing multitalented vaccines
78
Adjuvants
Increase potency of immune response ensuring immunity is acquired Ex. Aluminum W/o adjuvants vaccines less likely to produce memory cells
79
Live/attenuated
Use live virus that has been weakened so infection can’t be established
80
Reactivation
Reversion of attenuated virus to normal potency ex. MMR, chicken pox
81
Killed virus
Contain virus that has had nucleic acid removed or chemically degraded No risk of reactivation except for manufacturer error Ex. Polio, rabies, whooping cough
82
Subunit
Use specific part of pathogen
83
Recombinant vaccines
Type of subunit vaccine that use viral vector to produce antigen Require boosters Ex. Most bacterial vaccines, Astra Zeneca J and J
84
mRNA
Use code for body to produce part of pathogens surface proteins Ex. COVID Pfizer and Morderna
85
Why can’t some people get vaccinated?
Immune disorder Allergy

Biology 11 (6 decks)

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