Viruses Flashcards
What does it mean for an RNA virus to be “positive sense”?
Where do these viruses replicate?
- Means that the RNA is JUST LIKE a mRNA, it is ready for translation and does not need to bring along extra machinery (solely uses host machinery)
- In general, all positive-sense RNA viruses replicate in the cytoplasm
All negative-sense RNA viruses are single stranded except _____
What are the viruses included in this viral family?
- Reovirus; including rotavirus and colorado tick fever virus
What does it mean for an RNA virus to be “negative sense”?
- When they enter cell are not able to begin translation immediately.
- Must first be transcribed into a postive (+) strand of RNA (like mRNA)
- The negative-sense RNA virus MUST carry, in their capsid, an enzyme called RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
CSF findings in aseptic (nonbacterial) meningitis (i.e., glucose, organisms, and protein)?
- Normal glucose
- No organisms
- Elevated protein
What are the TORCHeS infection?
- Cross the placenta and cause infection in utero –> Congenital disease
- T = toxoplasma
- O = other
- R = rubella
- C = CMV
- H = HIV and HSV
- S = Syphillis
What are the 4 segmented viruses? (hint: there is a mnemonic)
What is their significance?
- BOAR:
- Bunyavirus
- Orthomyxovirus
- Arenavirus
- Reovirus
* Segmented viruses undergo antigenic variation!
What are the 2 types of mutations associated with antigenic variation of viruses?
Which leads to epidemics and which leads to pandemics?
- Antigenic drift: point mutations in HA or NA, associated with epidemics (this is the reason for new flu shot each year)
- Antigenic shift: reassortment of different combos of HA and NA leading to new species; associated with PANDEMICS
What type of antigenic variation can occur with Influenza A and Influenza B; which is associated with ?
- Influenza A: most important = cause of EPIdemicsandpandemics;can undergoantigenic driftandantigenic shift(Has ‘A’ in the name so can undergo both types of ‘A‘ntigenic variation!)
- Influenza B: associated with endemic outbreaks; can ONLY undego antigenic drift
Why is aspirin contraindicated in kids with suspected viral illnesses (i.e., Influenza or varicella)?
What is the pathogenesis?
- Can lead to Reyes syndrome — characterized by fever, rash, vomiting, liver failure, and encephalitis (can be fatal)
- Result of OxPhos uncoupling in hepatocyte mitochondria
Where do viruses replicate in host cells (in general)?
- DNA virsues in the nucleus
- RNA viruses in the cytoplasm
What are the general characteristic of the Picornavirus family?
What is the main form of transmission and the one exception?
- Positive-sense RNA virus
- Naked (lack envelope)
- Transmission: fecal-oral
- Exception is Rhinovirus: transmitted thru respiratory droplets
What are the 3 clinical subgroups of the Picornavirus family and the viruses included in each?
- Hepatitis A —> hepatosplenomegaly
- Enteroviruses (poliovirus, coxsackie A and B, echovirus)
- Rhinovirus —> common cold
What are characteristics of Poliovirus and what virus family does it belong to?
How does it survive in the GI upon entering the body?
- Part of the picornavirus family (Positive-sense, naked, RNA virus)
- Acid stable = fecal-oral transmission and can survive in GI tract
What is the pathogenesis of Poliovirus once inside the body?
Where does it replicate and what are the clinical manifestations once it spreads?
- Initially replicates in lymphoid tissue, like tonsils and Peyer’s pathches (takes about 2-3 weeks)
- Spreads to anterior horn of spinal cord causing ASYMMETRIC paralysis (often of LEs)
- Also causes myalgias, decreased DTRs, aseptic meningitis, and respiratory insufficiency due to paralysis of diaphragm
What family is Coxsackie A virus part of?
What are the 2 clinical manifestations?
- Picornafamily (SS Positive-sense, naked, RNA virus)
- Hepangina: mild self-limiting illness: fever, sore throat, and small red-based vesicle over back of throat
- Hand, foot, and mouth syndrome: common in children: fever, oral vesicles, and small tender lesions on the hands, feet, and buttocks
What family is Coxsackie B virus part of?
What are the 2 important clinical manifestations?
- Picornavirus family (SS Positive-sense, naked RNA virus)
- Pleurodynia: fever, headache, and severe lower thoracic pain on breathing (aka Devil’s Grip)
- Myocarditis/Pericarditis: infection and inflammation of the heart muscle and pericarial membrane, can cause chest pain, arrhythmias, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure
What virus family is Rhinovirus a part of?
How is it transmitted and is it acid stable or labile?
- Picornavirus family (SS Postive-sense, naked, RNA virus)
- Acid labile, so is transmitted via inhalation of respiratory droplets
What are the 2 viruses that can cause the common cold?
1) Rhinovirus
2) Coronaviridae
*A rhino drinking a corona!
Hepatitis A is part of what viral family and has what characteristics?
How is it transmitted?
What are sources of contamination?
- Picornavirus family (Naked icosahedral capsid w/ positive-sense SS RNA)
- Is acid stable, so transmitted fecal-to-oral route
- Contaminated food or water, or close person-to-person contact (day care centers)
What are the clinical manifestations of acute viral hepatitis A infection in adults and in children?
How long does the infection last?
- Children are infected most frequently and have milder sx’s, often NO JAUNDICE or even symptoms
- Adults: may have fever, flu-like sx’s, hepatomegaly, and jaundice
- Ususally lasts one month
What does anti-HAV IgM in the serum mean?
anti-HAV IgG?
- anti-HAV IgM in serum = active Hepatitis A infection
- anti-HAV IgG in seum = indicates old infection and NO active disease
What are the characteristics of Caliciviruses (norovirus)?
How is it transmitted?
Where is it commonly seen?
- Naked SS Positive-sense RNA virus
- Fecal-to-oral route
- Commonly seen on cruise ships and in day care centers
What is the clinical presentation for infection by Calicivirus (norovirus)?
- Acute viral gastroenteritis: fever, vomiting, adbominal pain
- Explosive watery diarrhea
What are the characteristics of the Flaviviridae family of viruses?
- Positive-sense SS RNA virus
- ENVELOPED
- Non-segmented
What 6 diseases are caused by the Flaviviridae family of viruses?
- Hepatitis C
- Dengue fever
- Yellow fever
- West Nile Virus
- St. Louis and Japanses encephalitis
What are the characteristics of the Flavivirus: Dengue fever?
How is it transmitted?
Which serotype is the most serious?
- Mosquitos are the vector
- Called break-bone fever: severe painful backache, muscle and joint pain, and severe headache
- Repeat infection w/ Serotype 2 causes Dengue hemorrhagic fever –> hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia, and shock
What are the characteristics of the Flavivirus: Yellow fever?
How is it transmitted?
- Mosquitos are the vector
- Hepatitis w/ jaundice, fever, bachache, nausea, and vomiting
Clinical features of the Flavivirus: West Nile virus including reservoir and vector, major complication, and diagnosis
- Reservoir = birds
- Vector = mosquitos
- Major complications = aseptic meningitis, frank encephalitis w/ decreased levels of consiousness, and/or dramatic motor paresis/flaccid paralysis
- Dx: PCR, serology (IgM versus WNV), or CSF (w/ IgM against WNV)
Hepatitis C is a member of what virus family?
How is it transmitted?
- Flavivirus family (Enveloped, positive-sense RNA virus)
- Transmitted parenterally, blood-to-blood (blood transfusions, needle sticks, IV drug use, placentally, or sex)
What are the clinical manifestations of Hepatitis C infection (both acute and chronic)?
Which associated cancer?
Acute = usually asymptomatic, but some have fever, nausea, muscle aches, hepatomegaly, RUQ pain, and jaundice
- Up to 85% of patients will develop chronic hepatitis; which can evenutally lead to cirrhosis
- Primary cause of Hepatocellular carcinoma
*Think the ‘C’ in Hep C stands for Chronic!
What is the leading cause of chronic hepatitis in the U.S.?
What is the leading indication for liver transplantation in U.S.?
- Hep C is leading cause of chronic hepatitis
- Chronic Hep C is leading indication for liver transplant
How is infection with Hepatitis C diagnosed?
- Testing for anti-HVC Abs detectable within 6-8 wks post-exposure
- Positive test confirmed via RIBA or by measuring the HCV viral RNA
Which 3 virus families are Arboviruses?
1) Bunyaviridae
2) Togoviridae
3) Flaviviridae
*Means they have an arthropod vector (i.e., mosquitos)
What are the characteristics of the Togaviridae family?
Most transmitted how?
Which viruses are in this family?
- Enveloped, Positive-sense, SS RNA virus
- Transmitted via arthropod (except Rubella)
- Wester, Eastern, and Venezuelan equnie encephalitis = Alpha viruses
- Rubivirus = Rubella = NOT an Arbovirus
How is Rubivirus transmitted and what disease does it cause?
- Rubella (AKA “German Measles)
- Respiratory transmission
- Can also cross the placenta —> congenital rubella
What are the characteristics of Childhood Rubella infection?
What type of rash?
How long does it last?
- Tender postauricular and occipital lymphadenopathy + Fever
- Maculopapular rash that begins on Forehead/faceand spreads totorsoandextremities
- Lasts only 3 days!
What are the clinical manifestations of Congenital Rubella; especially if virus crosses placenta in the first trimester? (Heart, eyes, and CNS)
The classic triad?
1) Heart: PDA, interventricular septal defects, pulmonary stenosis
2) Eye: cataracts, chorioretinitis, blindness
3) CNS: mental retardation, microcephaly, and deafness
Classic triad: Congenital cataracts, sensory-neural deafness, and PDA
Young women infected with Rubella may develop?
Self-limiting arthritis
What are the characteristics of Coronavirus?
What is a unique characteristic of its morphology?
- Positive-sense, SS RNA virus
- Encapsulated
- Helical
What are the clinical manifestations of Coronavirus?
What is the most recent novel virus in this family and its manifestations and how can it be diagnosed?
- Cause of the common cold
- SARS: fever, myalgias, and chills, and later develop a dry cough, chest pain, SOB, which can progress to ARDS
- Dx: using PCR or seroconversion (detecting Abs in blood to the virus)
What are the morphological characteristics of HIV and what does it do inside of cells?
- Diploid, Positive-sense SS RNA virus that gets converted to DNA intermediate by reverse transcriptase and then encorporated into host chromosomes
- Enveloped
What are the 3 important genetic components of HIV and what does each gene make?
1) gag = p24 which is the major capsid protein
2) pol = reverse transcriptase
3) env = gp41 (transmembrane protein) and gp120 (outer glycoprotein)
When an AIDS patients CD4+ T cell counts are <200 serious opportunistic infections by which 3 organisms may occur?
- Pneumocystis carnii pneumonia
- Cryptococcus neoformans
- Toxoplasma gondii
When and AIDS patient’s CD4+ T cell counts are <50 which organisms may cause disease?
- Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare, normally only affecting birds, causes disseminated disease in AIDS patients
- Cytomegalovirus infections also rise
What is the screening test for AIDS?
Confirmed how?
- ELISA screen for HIV
- Confirmation via Western Blot
What are the 3 major malignancies associated with AIDS?
1) B-cell lymphoma often in the brain
2) Kaposi’s sarcoma
3) Invasive cervical cancer (with related HPV co-infection)
Which 2 fungi produce disseminated disease in AIDS patients?
1) Histoplasma capsulatum (Mississippi and Ohio River Valleys)
2) Coccidioides immitis (Southwestern U.S)
What are the characteristics of Orthomyxovirus; why is it unique?
- Negative-sense SS RNA
- Lipid containing envelope
- Replicates in the NUCLEUS! (an exception)
- Segmented (7-8)
What are the 2 virulence factors of Orthomyxovirus?
1) Hemagglutinin (HA): binds sialic acid receptors on RBCs and cells of the upper respiratory tract; causes fusion between host cell membrane and virion membrane = dumping of viral genome into host cell
2) Neuraminidase (NA): breaks down neuraminic acid, important components of mucin, exposing sialic acid binding sites beneath
What is the difference between influenza A and B in terms of antigenic variation?
- A is most important because it undergoes both antigenic DRIFT and SHIFT, thus it is the cause of epidemics and pandemics
- B undergoes just antigenic DRIFT, so it is associated with endemics
Although the common cold and influenza (the flu) have very similar symptoms, what really sets apart viral influenza infection?
Painful muscle aches
High fevers
Headaches
Influenza can cause a primary pneumonia, or weaken the immunity to promote a delayed secondary bacterial pneumonia or otitis media with which 3 main bacteria?
1) Staphylococcus aureus
2) Haemophilus influenzae
3) Streptococcus pneumoniae
What is H5N1 and how are people typically exposed?
Nearly all patients infected with this strain have what clinical manifestations?
- Bird-flu
- Plucking and preparing diseased chickens or ducks, handling fighting cocks, or playing w/ asymptomatic ducks
- Develop a clinical pneumonia w/ diffuse patchy infiltrates on chest radiogram which progress to consolidation w/ air-bronchograms in more than one lung zone
- Rapidly progressed to ARDS or non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema
What are the characteristics of Paramyxovirus?
Transmission how?
- Negative-sense SS RNA virus
- Enveloped
- NOT segmented
- Transmission = respiratory droplets