Viruses: Chp 19 Flashcards
capsid
a protein shell that surrounds the genetic material
viral envelopes
surrounds the capsid and aids the viruses in infecting their host
bacteriophages (phages)
viruses that infect bacterial cells
host range
meaning that viruses can only infect a very limited variety of hosts
lytic cycle
ends int he death of the host cell by rupturing it (lysis). in this cycle, a bacteriophage injects its DNA into a host cell and takes over the host cell’s machinery to synthesize new copies of the viral DNA as well as protein coats. these self-assemble, and the bacterial cell is lysed, releasing multiple copies of the virus
lysogenic cycle
the bacteriophage’s DNA becomes incorporated into the host cell’s DNA and is replicated along with the host cell’s genome. the viral DNA is known as a prophage. under certain conditions, the prophage will enter the lytic cycle.
retroviruses
RNA viruses that use the enzyme reverse transcriptase to transcribe DNA from an RNA template. the new DNA permanently integrates into a chromosome in the nucleus of an animal cell. the host transcribes the viral DNA into RNA that may be used to synthesize viral proteins or may be released from the host cell to infect more cells
viroids
cicular RNA molecules several hundred nucleotides in length that infect plants
prions
misfolded, infections proteins that cause the misfolding of normal proteins that contact in varous animal species