Viruses and Prions

Question 1

what are the 2 types of herpes

Answer 1

HSV - 1 ==> oral herpes

HSV - 2 ==> genital herpes

Question 2

how do herpes spread?

Answer 2

mouth to mouth contact for HSV 1

sexual interaction for HSV 2

Question 3

are there any cure in herpes

Answer 3

No

there are antivirals to reduce symptoms

Question 4

what are the symptoms of herpes

Answer 4

mostly asymptomatic

• painful blisters
• open sores in or around the mouth
• tingling, itching or burning sensation

Question 5

Varicella zoster virus (VZV)

Answer 5

primary infection that causes chicken pox

can catch chicken pox from shingles

Question 6

which antivirals cannot cure VZV

Answer 6

acyclovir
famciclovir
valaciclovir

Question 7

what are the transmission of VZV

Answer 7

direct contact and respiratory transmission

Question 8

common respiratory viruses

Answer 8

rhinovirus
coronavirus
parainfluenza virus
respiratory syncytial virus
adenovirus
measles virus
influenza virus

Question 9

facts on influenza A virus

Answer 9

• 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

Question 10

what cell receptor does influenza viral spike attach to?

Answer 10

haemagglutinin

HA protein

Question 11

what is Neuraminidase inhibitors (NAIs)

Answer 11

drugs which block the neuraminidase enzyme. They are a commonly used antiviral drug type against influenza.

Question 12

clinical finding in HBV

Answer 12

anorexia
abdominal discomfort
nausea
vomiting
arthralgia
rash
palmar erythema
ascites
caput medusae

Question 13

Facts about Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

Answer 13

causes asymptomatic to severe hepatitis
Flavivirus
Reinfection possible
(+) RNA linear
no vaccine

Question 14

what is a prion

Answer 14

proteinaceous and infectious ion

• no nucleic acid
• non-degradable by typical sterilization

Question 15

What is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD)

Answer 15

fatal neurodegenerative disorder believed to be caused by prion protein.

Question 16

symptoms of CJD

Answer 16

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

Question 17

Cause of CJD

Answer 17

cause by prion

they accumulate at high levels in the brain and cause irreversible damage to nerve cells

Question 18

Sporadic CJD and its cause

Answer 18

unclear of the cause but its believe that normal brain protein changes abnormally and turns into a prion

Question 19

cause of variant CJD

Answer 19

consuming meat from a cow that had bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE/mad cow disease)

Question 20

cause of familial CJD

Answer 20

where 1 of the genes carries a mutation from parent that causes prions to form in their brain

Question 21

cause of latrogenic CJD

Answer 21

infection is accidentally spread from someone with CHD through medical or surgical treatment

Question 22

what is cerebrospinal fluid test

Answer 22

test to diagnose infectious diseases of the brain and spinal cord

e.g. meningitis and encephalitis

Question 23

What does RT-QuIC do?

Answer 23

detects abnormal prion protein

Question 24

what are the treatment for CJD

Answer 24

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

Question 25

what could insomnia result in?

Answer 25

panic attacks
paranoia
phobias

lasts for 4 months