WEEK 11: 11.4 Structure of viruses Flashcards
(14 cards)
Where are viruses, and what is their significance
They are everywhere, in all living organisms. they are integral to many ecosystems and play an active role in causing disease
How are new viruses formed?
Through replication, they do not grow or divide
Are viruses active or passive?
They are passive, they utilize their host cell to take its effect on the body
What must a virus make
mRNA that can be translated into proteins
What are the 2 main structures a virus can have?
It can either be non-enveloped (contain just a protein coat) or enveloped (contain a nucleocapsid and host lipid bilayer)
What are some other components of viruses
RNA genome
Integrase
Matrix
Protease
What do viral enzymes function to do?
make new genomes/mRNA
RNA dep RNA polymerase
RNA dep DNA polymerase
protease
integrase
Why do viruses carry enzymes
they are important for replication, and are present if required prior to mRNA production
What cells are used for virus propagation in cell culture?
Primary cell lines, as they are the best for investigating viral infection
Continuous cell lines are commonly used as they have a continuous replication cycle (immortal)
What kind of effect can tell one that a virus is replicating in a cell?
cytopathic effect (CPE) also known as cell death, infection radiates out
How can CPE be used?
It can tell us how many infectious viruses there are in a sample, each plaque in a cell culture represents one viral infection
If a virus doesn’t cause CPE, how else can we detect them?
immunofluorescence microscopy
genetically engineered genomes
PCR testing
Why are vitro-viral replication methods important?
they act as a pathway for development of anti-viral strategies
What else can be used as a model for viral infections apart from cell models?
animal models, including ferrets, mice, hamster, macaque
