Viruses Flashcards
What are the steps in the productive replicative cycle?
- Attachment
- Penetration
- Uncoating and disassembly
- Transcription
- Translation
- Replication
- Assembly
- Release from cell
Where do most RNA viruses release their genome during the disassembly stage of the viral productive replicative cycle?
Cytoplasm (as ribonucleoprotein)
Where do most DNA viruses release their genome during the disassembly stage of the viral productive replicative cycle?
Nucleus
(May require microtubules or other molecular motors to translocate nucleocapsid from cell periphery to nuclear core)
What converts negative sense single stranded viral RNA to positive sense RNA prior to translation?
RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (encoded by the viral genome)
What are the four characteristics of the genomes of RNA viruses?
- Smaller genome sizes (higher error rate when replicating)
- Maximum upper size limit
- Often exist as quasispecies
- Quasispecies = swarms of viruses of the same species with slightly different genome nucleotide sequence
- Creates a target for natural selection
- Segmented genomes
What is the relationship between genome size and error rate in replication for viral genomes?
Inversely related
(smaller genome associated with higher error rate)
Give 2 examples of viral proteins mediating attachment during the attachment stage of the viral productive replicative cycle
- Influenza - hemagglutinin
- HIV - gp120 (outer envelope protein)
Give 2 examples of viruses utilizing existing cell surface molecules in the attachment stage of the viral productive replicative cycle
- Influenza - sialic acid oligosaccharides
- HIV - CD4, CXCR4, CCR5
What do ss(–)RNA viruses use to convert ss(–)RNA to mRNA and genomic ss(+)RNA?
Viral RNA-dependent RNA polymerase
In the replication cycle of a DNA virus, what do early mRNAs typically encode?
late mRNAs?
early: regulatory proteins and proteins important for DNA replication, to take over host cell machinery
late: structural proteins
What do retroviruses use to convert ss(+)RNA to dsDNA?
Viral RNA-dependent DNA polymerase (reverse transcriptase)
What is the most important determinant of the type of cells viruses infect (tropism)?
Surface glycoprotein
(Must have cell surface receptors for the virus)
What is episomal latency?
Extrachromosomal viral genes floating in the cytoplasm or nucleus
Herpesviruses (HSV, EBV, VZV, CMV)
Which family of viruses exhibits episomal latency?
Herpesviruses (HSV, EBV, VZV, CMV)
What is proviral latency?
Viral genome integrated into DNA of host cell (provirus)
Ex: HIV
- An epidemic of gastroenteritis is traced to a malfunction at a local water treatment plant. A viral pathogen is identified. What can you likely predict about this virus?
It is likely a non-enveloped virus
What is the most common viral infective agent in humans?
Rhinovirus
Human rhinovirus is a [family, genetic material/sense, shape, portion of virus]
Human rhinovirus is a picornavirus that has (+)ssRNA and an icosahedral capsid
How does rhinovirus cause rapid onset of infection?
- Rhinovirus adheres to surface receptors within 15 minutes of entering respiratory tract
- Binds to ICAM-1 receptors on respiratory epithelial cells -> infected cells release cytokines and chemokines -> activate inflammatory mediators -> upper respiratory epithelial cell lysis
What is the optimal temperature for replication of rhinovirus?
Where is this temperature found?
32oC
Nose and large airways
Human Metapneumovirus is [family, genetic material/sense]
Human Metapneumovirus is a member of the pneumoviridae family and uses (–)ssRNA
Human metapneumovirus may be the _____ most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in young children (after RSV) and causes a _____ severe disease than RSV
Human metapneumovirus may be the second most common cause of lower respiratory tract infection in young children (after RSV) and causes a less severe disease than RSV
Human coronavirus is [envelope status, genetic material/sense, shape, structure]
Human coronavirus is an enveloped (+)ssRNA virus that has a helical nucleocapsid
Who is the mortality risk from human parainfluenza virus limited to?
- Very young children
- Elderly
- Immunocompromised


