Viruses Flashcards
Everything
Why aren’t viruses classified living or non living
They do not directly use energy
Cannot eat,respire or excrete
They cannot reproduce instead they multiply
Characteristics of viruses
Are acellular as they are not complete cells
Extremely small and can only be seen with electron microscope
Have many different shapes
Cannot reproduce unless they invade a host cell
Are parasitic on plants,animals protists and bacteria
Have ability to assemble themselves
Are pathogens
What inner core do viruses have
Either DNA or RNA
What are retroviruses
Some viruses with RNA
What is nucleic acid surrounded by
An outer protein coat or capsule which protects viral genetic material
What don’t viruses have
A cytoplasm and membrane organelles
What do capsules have
Many different shapes,surrounded by covering that contains some of host cells membrane
Process of contracting rabies
Person gets bitten by infected animal
Rabies virus enters the body and travels up the nerves to brain
Symptoms and effects of rabies
After between 20 to 60 days person may complain of headaches,fever and sore throat,later they become partially paralyzed,confused,agitated,terrified, and start imagining things
May suffer from convulsions,produce huge amounts of saliva and eventually fall into a coma and die. They may also become hydrophobic
How do you manage and treat rabies
Vaccine was developed by Louis Pasteur and Emile Roux
A person bitten need to see a doctor immediately to have wound cleaned with soapy water and disinfectant. The person will then be vaccinated a couple times
What causes rabies
An RNA virus
How can rabies be controlled
By regular vaccination of household pets and elimination of animal carriers as well as vaccination of humans
What does the rabies virus infect
Nervous system of mammals causing them to be mentally disturbed and aggressive
How does rabies spread
Infected animals may bite others passing on saliva with virus
