Lesson 1: Introduction to the study of viruses Flashcards
General description of a virus
> obligatory intracellular infectious agents, ranging in size from 20 to 400 nanometer (nm)
> filterable agents
> cannot be seen by light microscope except poxviruses. They are seen only with the aid of an electron microscope.
> no cellular organization and do not have organelles
> contain only one type of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA
> cannot replicate on inert media; viable host cells are required for replication
> unaffected by antibiotics
size of a virus
20 to 400 nanometer (nm)
example of specific picornavirus
Foot and Mouth-Disease virus
are the smallest viruses (size?)
picornaviruses (20nm)
the largest viruses (size?)
poxviruses (300nm)
These viruses cannot be seen by light microscope because of their small size except of this virus.
poxviruses
Viruses are seen only by the aid of what?
electron microscope
Viruses are composed of what?
nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat
2 types of nucleic acid
DNA or RNA
Viruses multiply by a complex process involving what?
protein synthesis and nucleic acid production
Viruses are unaffected by these drugs
antibiotics
Three categories of viruses
DNA viruses
RNA viruses
Viruses that utilize both DNA
and RNA for replication
The viruses that infect bacteria
Bacteriophages or Phages
an infectious extracellular virus particle consists of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) that is covered by a protein coat called capsid
Virion
Virion is an infectious extracellular virus particle consists of nucleic acid (DNA or
RNA) that is covered by a protein coat called __________.
capsid
a shell of subunits of proteins called capsomere that encloses the genome of vertebrate viruses
Capsid
capsid vs capsomere
capsid is the protective protein coat of viruses, whereas capsomere is the smallest subunit of viral capsid
subunits of proteins
capsomere
4 Functions of a Capsid
> offers protection for the nucleic acid against adverse
conditions
> it facilitates attachment and entry of the virus into host cell
> it possesses antigens used for virus identification in serological tests
> it determines the symmetry of the virus
2 types of capsid symmetry
described in viruses
Icosahedral and Helical Symmetries
the term used to refer to the combined nucleic acid and capsid which can either be naked or covered with a membrane termed an envelope
Nucleocapsid
the proteins that make up the subunit of capsid
Structural proteins
The viral genome also codes for important enzymes called__________ required for viral replication but are not incorporated in the virion.
non-structural proteins
are generally assembled in the host cell prior to incorporation of the viral nucleic acid.
Icosahedral capsids