Viruses Flashcards
Virus Classification is based on (3 factors)
Host cell (what they infect), Genome type (what they contain), Virion Structure (shape)
Adenovirus structure
Icosahedral, dsDNA, naked
Influenza virus structure
Helical, segmented RNA, enveloped
Herpesvirus structure
Icosahedral, dsDNA, enveloped
Poxvirus structure
complex, dsDNA, enveloped
Retrovirus (HIV) structure
icosahedral, (+) ssRNA (2 copies), enveloped
Define Virus
capsid encoding organism, obligate intracellular parasites, associated with all life forms. Viruses can only replicate in cells and cannot be cultured and isolated on agar plates or nutrient media
Capsid
protein shell that encapsulates the nucleic acid genome
Virion
particle encoded by a virus genome. Genome, Capsid and sometimes an envelop (optional) make up a virion.
3 basic gene modules of a virus
- capsid proteins, 2. replicon which encodes polymerase and proteins to copy genome, 3. multifunctional proteins that interact with the host (host interacting factors).
Virus strategy for survival (3 parts)
- genome encodes capsid to protect it outside cell, 2. genome has info for infecting cell, replicate genome, survive in cell, assemble virions, 3. transmission to new host
What happens to virions outside host cell
Virions are inert and lose infectivity over time
Requirements for Virus Replication (Name 6)
right host (tropism), cells with right receptors (susceptible), appropriate intracellular environment (permissive), biosynthesis machinery, abundant building blocks (nucleotides, amino acids, ATP, etc), and time to finish replication
Steps in Virus Replication
- Recognition of the target cell, 2. Attachment, 3. Entry: Penetration or Fusion, 4. Uncoating, 5. Transcription of mRNA, 6. Protein Synthesis, 7. Replication of the genome, 8. Assembly of virions, 9. Egress: lysis, budding, exocytosis
Single Step Virus Growth Curve
Eclipse: no virus is recovered during the replication and assembly phase, Maturation and release: virus particles are made and can infect other cells
Burst size
number of infectious viral progeny from a single round of replication
Virus vs Virion
Virus is living, Virion is inert (not alive)