Sketchy Pharm: Poxvirus

Question 1

Give a brief rundown on Poxvirus.

Answer 1

• dsDNA (blue tones of the factory with multiple conveyor belts)
• Enveloped (employees with envelopes)

Question 2

What is unique about the Poxvirus envelope?

Answer 2

It is made by the virus –not taken from the host like with most other viruses.

(Think of the employees making envelopes.)

Question 3

Poxvirus is the only DNA virus that ________________.

Answer 3

replicates in the cytoplasm; it can do this because it brings its own DNA-dependent RNA polymerase (like the “pox in a box” boxes being packaged by the employees)

Question 4

What are Guarnieri bodies?

Answer 4

Intracytoplasmic inclusions

(This makes sense intuitively because Poxvirus replicates in the cytoplasm, but the map in the background has a bunch of G’s around the circled HQ –which represents the nucleus –to symbolize this.)

Question 5

Poxvirus has a __________-shaped core.

Answer 5

dumbbell (like the weights being loaded into the boxes)

Question 6

Smallpox is also called _____________.

Answer 6

variola (don’t confuse this with varicella)

Question 7

The lesions for Smallpox can be confused with chickenpox, but there is a key difference: _________________.

Answer 7

the Smallpox lesions will all be the same age (like the “same day shipping” sign in the small box department)

Question 8

What does “umbilicated” mean?

Answer 8

Having a little dimple in the middle (like the navel)

Question 9

Where are molluscum contagiosum lesions commonly located?

Answer 9

On the trunk, axillae, and antecubital fossa (like the little kid who got into the stamps and has them all over his trunk)

Question 10

Describe the presentation of molluscum contagiosum in an adult.

Answer 10

It can be transmitted sexually and usually presents as a single genital lesion. If molluscum contagiosum spreads diffusely, it likely means that that adult is immunocompromised.