WK 2- Viral Pathogenesis Flashcards
What are the most common modes of transmission of a virus- give examples of what virus is transmitted this way
- Inhalation of droplets e.g. rhino, flu
- Ingestion of contaminated food or water e.g. HAV, Norovirus
- Direct transfer from other infected hosts e.g. HIV, HBV (ie. Through body fluids)
- Congenital spread e.g. CMV, Rubella
- Via bite of a vector e.g. dengue, RRV
What is viral tropism
A particular virus will usually only infect one or a restricted range of host species
-This is due to the ability of the virus particle to attach to the host cell via a specific receptor
→e.g. influenza attaches by its haemagglutinin to a glycoprotein (sialic acid) on cells of the respiratory tract epithelium→ the receptors need to be exactly the same to enter the cell
What are the 7 steps in infection of a host cell
- Entry→ skin, mucous membranes, respiratory tract, GIT, genitourinary tract
- Attachment→ tropism
- Penetration → fusion of cell membrane and virus membrane or uptake by phagosome
- Uncoating→ shedding of genetic material
- Replication→ of nucleic acid
- Assembly→ of viral particles
- Release→ can be through rupture and lysis of cell
What is immunopathogenesis
In some cases the immune response to the viral infection may be the cause of the disease–> eg: Increased secondary response to Tc cells e.g. HBV
- Immune-mediated cell lysis
- Immune enhancement e.g. DHF, HIV
- Deposition of immune complexes e.g. rash of measles and rubella
What are the 4 potential outcomes of an acute infection
- Complete recovery with no lasting effects
- Recovery with long-term effects
- Progression to chronic infection
- Death
What are the 5 potential outcomes of a chronic infeciton
- Lifelong subclinical infection e.g. CMV, EBV
- Long silent period before disease e.g. HIV, SSPE
- Reactivation to cause acute disease e.g. HSV, VZV
- Chronic disease with relapses and exacerbations e.g. HBV, HCV
- Malignancies e.g. EBV, HTLV-1, HPV, HBV, HCV, HHV-8
What is a persistant infection
-Virus continues to replicate at very low levels e.g. HIV, HBV, CMV, EBV→ pt may not be aware they are infected-> facilitates spread
What is a latent infection
-Virus remains quiescent following primary infection & replication doesn’t occur until triggered e.g. HSV, VZV (ie. Triggered when patient becomes immunocompromised)
What are the 6 ways in which viral replication/survival can persist in a host
- Antigenic variation
- Immune tolerance
- Restricted gene expression
- Immune response modulation by virus
- Infection of immunoprivileged sites
- Direct infection of immune cells
Does HIV cause significant cell damage
No- because it buds from the cell and does not cause cell lysis- Rhinovirus causes cell lysis leading to cell death/fever
What is a prion
Prions are NOT viruses, they are proteinaceous infectious particles→ they are a form of a normal protein found in humans in the CNS but something triggers the protein to change conformation and causes production of infective aggregates and altered function
How do prions cause disease
They form infective aggregates and plaques which accumulate in the CNS and cause degeneration-> they do not elicit and immune or inflamm reaction and have a slow replication rate
How are prions destroyed
Prions are highly resistant to heat, chemical agents and irradiation→ unable to be killed so difficult to treat patients-> must use disposable equipment
What diseases are caused by prions
Spongiform encephalopathies
- Kuru→ Fatal neurologic disease in PNG, no longer seen
- CJD (Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease)→ Rare chronic encephalopathy, occurs world wide, small amount of cases familial with mutated prion protein gene
- GSS (Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker)
- FFI (Fatal familial insomnia)
What is are the 3 major types of parasites
protozoa, arthropods and helminths
How are protozoa most commonly acquired
Most acquired through ingestion of contaminated food or water, or via insect vectors (ie. Malaria) & occasionally via vertical transmission (toxic plasmosis)