MOD 4

Question 1

What are viruses composed of?

Answer 1

Viruses are composed of nucleic acid, protein, lipids (if enveloped), carbohydrates, and water.

Question 2

What do structural genes encode?

Answer 2

Structural genes encode proteins that make up the virion.

Question 3

What do non-structural genes encode?

Answer 3

Non-structural genes encode proteins for replication and other processes.

Question 4

What does X-ray crystallography provide?

Answer 4

X-ray crystallography provides very high resolution.

Question 5

What is a limitation of X-ray crystallography?

Answer 5

It is limited to crystallised samples and not suitable for whole enveloped viruses.

Question 6

What does Cryo-EM allow for?

Answer 6

Cryo-EM allows for native structure analysis without crystallisation.

Question 7

What is a limitation of Cryo-EM?

Answer 7

It is less suited for small proteins.

Question 8

What does Cryo-electron tomography generate?

Answer 8

Cryo-electron tomography generates 3D reconstructions of viruses.

Question 9

How does Cryo-electron tomography achieve imaging?

Answer 9

It tilts the microscope stage to image from multiple angles.

Question 10

What role do glycans on viral proteins play?

Answer 10

Glycans on viral proteins shield the spike from immune detection.

Question 11

What types of linkages can glycans have?

Answer 11

Glycans can be N-linked or O-linked.

Question 12

How many glycan sites does the SARS-CoV-2 spike have?

Answer 12

SARS-CoV-2 spike has 23 glycan sites.

Question 13

What is required for the dynamic RBD of SARS-CoV-2 to bind ACE2?

Answer 13

The dynamic RBD must be ‘up’ to bind ACE2.

Question 14

What occurs in the post-fusion state of the spike?

Answer 14

The post-fusion state of spike involves S1 dissociation and S2 activation.

Question 15

What do long α-helical bundles indicate in the spike?

Answer 15

They indicate the post-fusion state of the spike.

Question 16

What proteins do flaviviruses use to form icosahedrons?

Answer 16

Flaviviruses form icosahedrons using E and M proteins.

Question 17

How do flaviviruses present multiple epitopes?

Answer 17

They present multiple epitopes via different symmetry positions.

Question 18

What do structural dynamics aid in?

Answer 18

Structural dynamics aid in receptor binding.

Question 19

What can structural dynamics expose?

Answer 19

They can expose cryptic epitopes.

Question 20

How is X-ray crystallography characterized?

Answer 20

X-ray crystallography is static.

Question 21

How is Cryo-EM characterized?

Answer 21

Cryo-EM is dynamic and fast.

Question 22

How is tomography characterized?

Answer 22

Tomography is 3D and spatially resolved.

Question 23

How do virus structure studies aid in vaccine design?

Answer 23

They aid in vaccine and therapeutic design by revealing epitopes and dynamic conformations.

Question 24

What role do glycans play in the SARS-CoV-2 spike image?

Answer 24

Glycans play a role in shielding and immune evasion.

Question 25

How does the dynamic RBD help in SARS-CoV-2?

Answer 25

The dynamic RBD helps in receptor engagement.

Question 26

What do Cryo-EM images of SARS-CoV-2 reveal?

Answer 26

They reveal spike distribution per virion and RBD conformational states.

Question 27

Who developed the first vaccine?

Answer 27

Edward Jenner developed the first vaccine using cowpox-infected material to protect against smallpox.

Question 28

What do inactivated vaccines use?

Answer 28

Inactivated vaccines use chemically treated pathogens.

Question 29

What can inactivated vaccines reduce?

Answer 29

They may reduce immunogenicity and alter antigen conformation.

Question 30

What are live attenuated vaccines characterized by?

Answer 30

Live attenuated vaccines are highly immunogenic.

Question 31

What is a drawback of live attenuated vaccines?

Answer 31

They take longer to develop and are harder to scale.

Question 32

What advantages do nucleic acid vaccines offer?

Answer 32

Nucleic acid vaccines offer fast development and antigen-targeted response.

Question 33

What is a requirement for nucleic acid vaccines?

Answer 33

They need cold storage.

Question 34

What do subunit vaccines require?

Answer 34

Subunit vaccines require adjuvants.

Question 35

What may subunit vaccines fail to present effectively?

Answer 35

They may fail to present pre-fusion conformations effectively.

Question 36

What does the clamp approach ensure?

Answer 36

The clamp approach ensures presentation of pre-fusion protein structures.

Question 37

What are ideal antivirals characterized by?

Answer 37

Ideal antivirals are cheap, oral, targeted, and avoid escape.

Question 38

What can antivirals target to block replication?

Answer 38

Antivirals can target entry, enzymes, or host factors.

Question 39

What does Tamiflu block?

Answer 39

Tamiflu blocks neuraminidase.

Question 40

What does blocking neuraminidase prevent?

Answer 40

It prevents release of influenza virus from host cells.

Question 41

How do YTE mutations improve antibody half-life?

Answer 41

YTE mutations improve antibody half-life by enhancing recycling via FcRn in acidified endosome.

Question 42

How does glycosylation impact antibody function?

Answer 42

Glycosylation impacts antibody effector function.

Question 43

How is glycosylation monitored?

Answer 43

It is monitored via glycan profiling assays.

Question 44

What does M102.4 block?

Answer 44

M102.4 is an antibody that blocks Hendra virus binding to host receptor.

Question 45

What types of antivirals are included for HIV?

Answer 45

HIV antivirals include GP160-binding mAbs and fusion-inhibiting peptides.

Question 46

What does combining antiviral targets reduce?

Answer 46

Combining antiviral targets reduces escape potential.

Question 47

What does combining antiviral targets increase?

Answer 47

It increases broad-spectrum effectiveness.

Question 48

What are drawbacks of combination therapy?

Answer 48

Drawbacks of combination therapy include cost, toxicity, and complex dosing.