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Viruses Flashcards

(52 cards)

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1
Q

What is a virus?

A

A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.

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2
Q

What is a bacteriophage?

A

A bacteriophage is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria.

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3
Q

True or False: Viruses are considered living organisms.

A

False

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4
Q

What are the two main types of viral growth cycles?

A

Lytic growth and lysogenic growth.

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5
Q

What occurs during lytic growth?

A

The virus infects a host cell, replicates, and causes the cell to burst, releasing new viruses.

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6
Q

Fill in the blank: In lysogenic growth, the virus integrates its genetic material into the host genome and remains __________.

A

dormant

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7
Q

What triggers the switch from lysogenic to lytic growth?

A

Environmental stress or changes in the host cell can trigger the switch.

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8
Q

What is the term for the viral DNA integrated into the host genome during lysogenic growth?

A

Prophage

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9
Q

True or False: All viruses have a lipid envelope.

A

False

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10
Q

What is the primary structural component of a virus?

A

Capsid

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11
Q

What is a subviral particle?

A

A subviral particle is a virus-like entity that is smaller than a virus and may include prions and viroids.

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12
Q

Fill in the blank: Prions are infectious proteins that cause __________ diseases.

A

neurodegenerative

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13
Q

What type of nucleic acid can viruses contain?

A

Either DNA or RNA.

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14
Q

What is the role of the viral envelope?

A

To protect the viral nucleic acids and aid in the infection of host cells.

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15
Q

True or False: Lysogenic viruses can remain dormant for extended periods.

A

True

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16
Q

What is the difference between a virulent and temperate bacteriophage?

A

Virulent bacteriophages only undergo lytic growth, while temperate bacteriophages can undergo both lytic and lysogenic cycles.

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17
Q

What is the process by which a virus enters a host cell?

A

Attachment and penetration.

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18
Q

What is a viroid?

A

A viroid is a small, circular piece of RNA that causes disease in plants.

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19
Q

Fill in the blank: In lytic growth, the host cell is __________ after the release of new viruses.

A

destroyed

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20
Q

What do we call the proteins that help viruses attach to host cells?

A

Viral receptors or attachment proteins.

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21
Q

True or False: All viruses are harmful to their hosts.

22
Q

What is the function of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses?

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A

To convert viral RNA into DNA.

23
Q

What is meant by ‘viral replication’?

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A

The process by which a virus makes copies of itself inside a host cell.

24
Q

Fill in the blank: The __________ cycle involves the integration of viral DNA into the host’s DNA.

25
What is the significance of the viral capsid?
It protects the viral genetic material and aids in the delivery of the viral genome into host cells.
26
True or False: Viruses can reproduce independently without a host.
False
27
What happens during the 'release' phase of the lytic cycle?
Newly formed viruses exit the host cell, often causing cell lysis.
28
What is an example of a disease caused by a virus?
Influenza or HIV.
29
What is the term for the study of viruses?
Virology.
30
Fill in the blank: __________ are proteins that can misfold and induce other proteins to misfold, leading to diseases.
Prions
31
What is the role of the viral genome?
It carries the genetic information necessary for viral replication and infection.
32
True or False: Bacteriophages can be used in phage therapy to treat bacterial infections.
True
33
What is the primary method of viral replication?
Hijacking the host cell's machinery to produce viral components.
34
Fill in the blank: A virus that only causes lytic infections is called a __________ virus.
virulent
35
What are the main components of a virus?
Nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat (capsid).
36
What is the function of the viral envelope in enveloped viruses?
To help the virus enter host cells and evade the host immune system.
37
What triggers the lytic cycle in a temperate bacteriophage?
Environmental stress or damage to the host cell.
38
True or False: Lysogenic viruses can lead to the development of cancer in the host.
True
39
What is the difference between naked and enveloped viruses?
Naked viruses lack a lipid envelope, while enveloped viruses have one.
40
What is the purpose of viral capsid proteins?
To protect the viral genome and assist in the attachment to host cells.
41
Fill in the blank: __________ are infectious agents that consist solely of RNA without a protein coat.
Viroids
42
What is the main characteristic of retroviruses?
They replicate through a DNA intermediate using reverse transcriptase.
43
True or False: All subviral particles are viruses.
False
44
What is the main consequence of lytic infection?
Destruction of the host cell.
45
What is a key feature of lysogenic viruses?
They can remain dormant and integrate into the host genome.
46
What does it mean for a virus to be 'obligate intracellular'?
It can only reproduce within a host cell.
47
Fill in the blank: The viral __________ is responsible for the specificity of the virus to its host.
envelope or capsid proteins
48
What is the function of host cell machinery in viral replication?
To produce viral proteins and replicate the viral genome.
49
True or False: Viruses can infect all types of living organisms.
True
50
What is one method used to classify viruses?
By their type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA).
51
What is a common method for studying viruses in the laboratory?
Cell culture techniques.
52
Fill in the blank: Viruses can evolve rapidly due to __________.
high mutation rates

BIOLOGY (17 decks)

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