Viruses and Prions Flashcards
what are the 2 types of herpes
HSV - 1 ==> oral herpes
HSV - 2 ==> genital herpes
how do herpes spread?
mouth to mouth contact for HSV 1
sexual interaction for HSV 2
are there any cure in herpes
No
there are antivirals to reduce symptoms
what are the symptoms of herpes
mostly asymptomatic
- painful blisters
- open sores in or around the mouth
- tingling, itching or burning sensation
Varicella zoster virus (VZV)
primary infection that causes chicken pox
can catch chicken pox from shingles
which antivirals cannot cure VZV
acyclovir
famciclovir
valaciclovir
what are the transmission of VZV
direct contact and respiratory transmission
common respiratory viruses
rhinovirus coronavirus parainfluenza virus respiratory syncytial virus adenovirus measles virus influenza virus
facts on influenza A virus
- single stranded negative RNA genome
- has 8 segments
- RNA-protein complexes are packed in a lipoprotein
- Haemagglutinin, neuraminidase and M2 protein are exposed on the outer surface of the viral particle
what cell receptor does influenza viral spike attach to?
haemagglutinin
HA protein
what is Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs)
drugs which block the neuraminidase enzyme. They are a commonly used antiviral drug type against influenza.
clinical finding in HBV
anorexia abdominal discomfort nausea vomiting arthralgia rash palmar erythema ascites caput medusae
Facts about Hepatitis C virus (HCV)
causes asymptomatic to severe hepatitis Flavivirus Reinfection possible (+) RNA linear no vaccine
what is a prion
proteinaceous and infectious ion
- no nucleic acid
- non-degradable by typical sterilization
What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)
fatal neurodegenerative disorder believed to be caused by prion protein.
symptoms of CJD
loss of intellect and memory changes in personality loss of balance and co-ordination slurred speech vision problems and blindness abnormal jerking movements progressive loss of brain function and mobility
Cause of CJD
cause by prion
they accumulate at high levels in the brain and cause irreversible damage to nerve cells
Sporadic CJD and its cause
unclear of the cause but its believe that normal brain protein changes abnormally and turns into a prion
cause of variant CJD
consuming meat from a cow that had bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE/mad cow disease)
cause of familial CJD
where 1 of the genes carries a mutation from parent that causes prions to form in their brain
cause of latrogenic CJD
infection is accidentally spread from someone with CHD through medical or surgical treatment
what is cerebrospinal fluid test
test to diagnose infectious diseases of the brain and spinal cord
e.g. meningitis and encephalitis
What does RT-QuIC do?
detects abnormal prion protein
what are the treatment for CJD
no cure
treatment depends on the person and try to keep them as comfortable as possible
e.g. anxiety and depression can be treated with sedatives and antidepressants
muscle jerk / tremors can be treated with medicines like clonazepam and sodium valproate
what could insomnia result in?
panic attacks
paranoia
phobias
lasts for 4 months
