Virus Classification, Structure & Replication Flashcards
how is a virus different from a bacterium?
- virus: uses host machinery to make copies of viral DNA/RNA, smaller
- bacteria: asexual fission reproduction, larger
how is a virus different than a toxin?
a virus can make copies of its DNA/RNA a toxin is secreted and cannot replicate
how were viruses discovered based on size?
dimitri ivanofsky showed that Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) was able to pass through a filter while bacteria could not (1892)
first electron micrograph of TMV in 1939
how were viruses discovered based on growth?
martinus beijerinck showed that the titer of TMV increased after infecting a plant, proving TMV was not a toxin (1898)
how were bacteriophages (bacteria viruses) discovered?
- discovered by frederick w. twort (1915) while trying to grow vaccina virus
- bacteriophage were instrumental in developing the field of virology and expanding the field of biology
how were animal viruses discovered?
- foot and mouth disease (first animal virus) discovered (1898)
- yellow fever virus (first human virus) discovered in 1901
describe general characteristic of viruses.
- smaller than bacteria, fungus, and other microorganisms
- replicate when provided a host
- viruses are obligate intracellular pathogens
- viruses are not autpoietic
- means “poison” in greek
- ubiquitous in nature
describe the theory of cellular virus origin.
proposes that viruses were once cellular components but over time they evolved separately
describe the theory of autopoietic virus origin.
proposes that viruses, once autopoietic entities, became dependent on cells for replication
name the attributes for virus classification
- virus particle structure
- genome
- replication features
- serology
- stability
what is meant by virus particle structure?
- composition
- shape
- size
- presence of nucleocapsid
- presence of envelopes
what is a nucleocapsid?
RNA or DNA in a core that is protected by a protein coat (capsid)
virus is defined by nucleocapsid structure
- helical
- pleomorphic
- icosahedral
what is a nucleocapsid comprised of?
repeating protein subunits called capsomeres
what is a viral envelope?
-virus-modified cellular membranes acquired upon exit from host
what renders enveloped viruses noninfectious?
exposure to lipid solvents in the lab (alcohol, ether, acetone, Freon)
can enveloped viruses have nucleocapsids?
yes, enveloped viruses may have nucleocapsids with different structures
what is the largest virus?
poxviridae
what is the smallest virus?
parvoviridae and circoviridae
describe virus composition
- DNA: ds or ss
- RNA: ds or ss
- ss: plus sense (+)ssRNA, minus sense (-)ssRNA, or ambisense (bidirectional + and - sense)
how is plus sense ssRNA used for translation?
directly
how is minus sense ssRNA used for translation?
needs to have a plus sense made of it before can cause translation protein from ribosome
how are viruses classified based on genome structure?
- linear
- circular
- segmented
- diploid
T/F: viruses are classified by gene arrangement
T
what is the ssDNA hairpin viral replication?
Rolling hairpin replicating genomes are single strand DNA with terminal hairpin structures. Upon infection, the 3’ hairpin serves as primer for host reparation enzymes to convert viral ssDNA into dsDNA form used both for transcription and replication.