Viruses Part I Flashcards
Chapter 13
Define Viruses
Latin for poison
Characteristics of Viruses (7)
- obligate intracellular parasites
- very small, filterable
- contain one type of nucleic acid (either DNA or RNA)
- Nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat (capsid)
- Have little enzymes of their own
- May have lipid envelopes
- Many have a range of host cells able to infect
What is the virion?
complete infectious particle
Do viruses have a plasma membrane?
No
Do viruses replicate through binary fission?
No
Can viruses pass through bacteriological filters?
Yes
Do viruses possess both RNA and DNA
No, only one of them
Do viruses have an ATP-generating metabolism?
No
Do viruses have ribosomes?
No
Are viruses sensitive to antibiotics?
No
Are viruses sensitive to interferon?
Yes
What is the structure of a virion?
Nucleic acid surrounded by capsid +/- lipid envelope.
What do we classify viruses by? (3)
- nucleic acid content (DNA or RNA)
- capsid
- envelope
Describe nucleic acids
DNA or RNA (can be single stranded or double stranded, linear or circular, continuous or segmented)
single stranded RNA genomes…
have a polarity (+ or -)
+ RNA…
can go in the cell and DIRECTLY function as RNA
(-) RNA…
must first be TRANSCRIBED into +RNA strand which then serves as the mRNA
Retrovirus
RNA transcribed into DNA inside the host
What is a capsid?
protein coat surrounding the nucleic acid
What are the units that make up capsids called?
capsomers
What are the 3 capsid shapes?
- helical
- polyhedral
- complex
Describe Helical Symmetry (regarding capsids)
- looks like a long rod
- multiple copies of the same protein wrapped in a helix
- nucleic acid surrounded by a hollow, helical, cylindrical capsid
Examples of viruses with helical symmetry (1):
- Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV)
Describe Polyhedral Symmetry (regarding capsids)
- many sides
- ICOSAHEDRAL (20 sides, 12 corners)
- Each side = equilateral triangle
Examples of viruses with polyhedral symmetry (3):
- Polio Virus
- Adenovirus
- Herpes Virus
Describe Complex Symmetry:
- complicated structures
- somewhat asymmetrical
Examples of viruses with complex symmetry (2):
- bacteriophage viruses (have capsid, tail, + sheath)
- pox virus (no capsid but several coats around nucleic acid)
What is an envelope?
It surrounds the nucleocapsid of some animal viruses.
What are virus envelopes made of?
They are made up of host cell lipids (lipid bilayer) and viral proteins
What do virus envelopes sometimes have?
viral glycoproteins called peplomers or spikes
What are viral glycoproteins called?
Peplomers or spikes
What are viral glycoproteins used for?
Attachment to host cell
What do virus envelopes do? (3)
- may help virus get away from the cell
- keeps segments of segmented genome together
- antigenic: host immune system can mount an attack
Taxonomy of Viruses (at first)
- plant viruses
- animal viruses
- bacteriophage
Taxonomy of Viruses (then)
- respiratory diseases
- enteric viruses
Taxonomy of Viruses (now)
- nucleic acid type (DNA, RNA)
- replication strategy
morphology
Describe Parvoviridae (3)
- single stranded DNA
- icosahedral
- naked
Examples of Parvoviridae (4)
- Gastroenteritis
- fetal death
- fifth disease
- human parvovirus B19
Describe Adenoviridae (3)
- double stranded DNA
- icosahedral
- naked
Examples of Adenoviridae (1)
- Respiratory diseases
Describe Papovaviridae (3)
- double stranded DNA
- icosahedral
- naked
What does the pa-po-va in papovaviridae stand for?
- Pa (papilloma): warts
- Po (polyoma): tumors
- Va (vacuolating): causes vacuoles in host cell
Examples of Papovaviridae (1)
- HPV (human papilloma virus)
Describe HPV (human papilloma virus) (2)
- more than 60 types
- benign warts, plantar warts, laryngeal warts, cervical warts
Describe Poxviridae (4)
- double stranded DNA
- complex
- enveloped
- largest of all the viruses
Examples of Poxviridae (2)
- smallpox virus
- cowpox virus