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intro to virology
cmbm exam IV
50
Chemistry
Graduate
01/29/2010

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Term
what is the standard definition for viruses?
Definition
small obligate intracellular pathogens, used to be called "filterable agents"
Term
are viruses visible by light microscopy?
Definition
you only see them under electron microscopy
Term
where can viruses replicate? why?
Definition
viruses are only able to replicate only in living cells. they have no subcellular organelles and rely in host protein synth machinery.
Term
can you cx a virus?
Definition
only if you innoculate them into cells in a cx
Term
do viruses divide? what are virions?
Definition
progeny virions are assembled, so the virus itself doesn't divide. virions: another term for a viral particle
Term
what are viruses made of? what sorts of genomes can they have?
Definition
nucleic acid enclosed in a protein coat. their genome can be DNA or RNA, but not both
Term
what is found in the core of the virus?
Definition
the genome and the associated enzymes. some viruses have a polymerase included
Term
what shapes can the protein coat of viruses take?
Definition
virus protein coats, called capsids can be helical, (cylinder and the DNA or RNA is inserted into the middle) or icosahedral, (20 sided figure; has a lot of stability and strength)
Term
what is the nucleocapsid? what are viruses w/out an envelope called? what else would be found in an enveloped virus?
Definition
a term used for the capsid when surrounded by an envelope, referring to the core and the capsid together. viruses w/out an envelope are called naked viruses, (only have nucleocapsid, and no envelope). glycoproteins would be found in the membrane, in addition to the nucleocapsid
Term
what are the main functions of the viral capsids?
Definition
the main function of viral capsids is to protect the genome, but they are also involved in entry or uncoating.
Term
what is uncoating?
Definition
uncoating is the process where the genome is released from the capsid, which is necessary for the virus in order to replicate and transcribe its genome to make messenger RNA - some capsid proteins are involved in this.
Term
how are the viral capsids involved in assembly?
Definition
viral proteins usually self assemble and at some point and the genome is inserted into the middle, capsid proteins can package viral enzymes if necessary
Term
what is the viral envelope?
Definition
a host derived lipid bilayer, (from the plasma membrane or internal membranes)
Term
what are the two viral encoded proteins that are present in all envelope viruses?
Definition
matrix proteins that are involved in assembly, (form a bridge between the capsid and the part of the membrane that has viral proteins in it to make a complete viral particle), and surface glycoproteins, whose main function is cell attachment/virus-cell fusion. they can also bind host neutralizing (protective) antibodies
Term
what kind of antibody response can be made against surface glycoproteins?
Definition
neutralizing antibody response, (specific kind of antibody response that can actually prevent an infection - if the virus cannot attach to the cell, it can't infect it), there are other antibodies can still permit virus to host cell attachment
Term
how are viruses classified?
Definition
type of genome (DNA RNA), capsid morphology (helical vs icosahedral), and naked vs enveloped
Term
what characterizes DNA viruses?
Definition
their genome can persist over time and integrate into the host chromosome as it resides in the nucleus. it can use host polymerases and interact with host transcription factors
Term
what characterizes RNA viruses?
Definition
their genome is more labile, it remains in the cytoplasm and RNA viruses have to encode their own polymerases. they are also more prone to mutations
Term
what are retroviruses? what is a clinical consequence of their type of replication?
Definition
RNA viruses that can make a DNA copy of their genome during replication called cDNA. this can cause a latent infection.
Term
what is a clinical consequence of RNA viruses?
Definition
there is a lot of variance due to high mutation rate, seen in HIV and Hep C
Term
what are some characteristics of naked icosahedral viruses? can they exist outside of a host? how are they released?
Definition
these cause many vases of gastroenteritis, b/c the capsid provides protection for the genome from drying out, pH/temp extremes, detergents, etc. since they don't have envelopes, they are released via cell lysis
Term
what are clinical consequences of naked icosahedral viruses? are these cytopathic?
Definition
these can transmit easily via fomites, b/c they don't dry out like enveloped viruses. stools are one way they can be spread. naked icosahedral viruses can be cytopathic and are usually more pathogenic than enveloped viruses
Term
what are some characteristics of enveloped viruses? can they exist outside a host? how are they released?
Definition
destroying the envelope will negate their infectivity, (any sort of drying will make them inactive). they are acid and heat labile and organic solvents will damage their infectivity due to damage to the envelope. they are released from cells via budding (how they gain their envelope) or possibly cell lysis.
Term
what are the clinical implications of enveloped viruses? do they have to kill infected cells to spread? how well do they stand the GI?
Definition
they are transmitted through respiratory droplets and secretions, (coughing, sneezing, aerosols, blood, organ transplants). enveloped viruses don't have to kill infected cells to spread. they tend to not survive in the GI tract.
Term
what is the first step in the replication cycle?
Definition
attachment, where specific binding between a glycoprotein on the viral surface binds the receptor of the host cell. with enveloped viruses, this involves surface proteins and with naked viruses, this involves capsid proteins.
Term
what is trophism? what determines this?
Definition
the ability of a virus to infect a particular type of cell, attachment is not the only determinant of this, but it is the most important and first component of this determination
Term
what kinds of cellular receptors on the host cell interact with viruses?
Definition
proteins or carbohydrates on glycoproteins or glycolipids on the host cell surface that can have physiological roles intracellularly including cell-cell interaction and hormone, cytokine, or complement involvement
Term
what is the next step in viral replication after attachment?
Definition
entry and uncoating. the virus can enter through receptor-mediated entry w/an endosome or directly through the plasma membrane. uncoating is the release of the genome in to the cell, (DNA virus genome -> host nucleus, RNA virus genome -> host cytoplasm)
Term
how does entry directly through the host plasma membrane occur with enveloped and naked viruses?
Definition
enveloped viruses' membranes fuse with that of the host cell and naked viruses can create a channel through the membrane via hydrophobic interactions
Term
can receptor mediated endocytosis occur with both enveloped and naked viruses?
Definition
yes, and this is the most common route of entry for viruses, (naked viruses tend to favor this mode of entry)
Term
what are the two variations of receptor-mediated endocytosis?
Definition
clathrin mediated and caveolae dependent pathways
Term
how does the clatrin mediated pathway work in viral receptor-mediated endocytosis?
Definition
clathrin coated pits envelope the virus into an endosome which is taken inside the cell. the endosome must be acidified for the fusion proteins to be activated and thus allow the virus to leave
Term
how does the caveolae-dependent mediated pathway work in viral receptor-mediated endocytosis?
Definition
the host membrane contains invaginations called caveolae that contain a lipid-raft associated proteins called caveolin. the virus is enveloped in a vesicle called a caveosome wich is then released into the cytosol. viruses have to be able to fuse at a neutral pH to enter this way, (doesn't need to be acidified)
Term
what must happen in conjunction with viral entry into the cell? how does this process differ between RNA+DNA viruses?
Definition
the capsid has to be able to dissociate so the genome can get loose in the cell. w/RNA viruses, uncoating and penetration will occur at the same time with the genome being released into the cytoplasm. w/DNA viruses, the caspid stays intact until it reaches the nuclear membrane and then the genome enters via a nuclear pore
Term
how does uncoating occur with naked viruses (once in endosome)?
Definition
there is a conformational change in the capsid proteins and lysis or permeability (channel formation), of the endosomal membrane occurs. triggers for this include binding of a receptor, change in pH, and proteolytic degradation
Term
how do viruses take over host cell protein synthesis machinery?
Definition
the host cell is directed to start making viral proteins though initiation of viral mRNA transcription, replication of the viral genome, and shutting down host protein synthesis.
Term
what do the early viral transcripts do?
Definition
the early viral transcripts encode regulatory enzymes & proteins that control transcription of the viral mRNA and replication of the viral genome
Term
what do the late viral transcripts do?
Definition
encode viral structural proteins, aren't needed until late in the cycle
Term
where does DNA virus transcription/replication occur? what is the genome a template for? is it infectious? what host genetic machinery does the virus use?
Definition
DNA virus transcription/replication occurs in the nucleus except for pox viruses. the genome is a template for mRNA and is infectious, (if you take ONLY the genome of the host virus and place it into a cell, the cell can make the whole viral particle). the virus uses host cell DNA-dependent RNA polymerase, (but some more complex DNA viruses can encode their own polymerase)
Term
what does the positive strand RNA virus genome function as? what does the virus encode? where does the RNA polymerase come from?
Definition
a positive strand RNA virus's genome is by definition the mRNA, (-strand RNA is complementary). the genome is thus translated as a polyprotein, which is then cleaved by a virus-produced protease. the virus has to encode its own RNA-dependent RNA polymerase which then transcribes - strand RNA which is the template for mRNA as well as the + strand RNA virus genome. the genome is infectious
Term
what do - strand RNA viruses need packaged with them as opposed to + strand RNA viruses? what does their genome function as?
Definition
- strand RNA viruses need an RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to be packaged with them. the - strand RNA genome functions as a template for mRNA and it encodes a + strand copy/template of the genome which is then encoded back into - strand RNA genomes for replication
Term
how do double stranded RNA viruses replicate?
Definition
double stranded RNA viruses are kind of combinations of +/- strand RNA viruses. the genome is segmented, with different viral proteins encoded on different segments of RNA. the virus encodes a RNA-dependent RNA polymerase which is a core protein. the positive strand RNA transcripts are mRNAs and the template for negative strand synthesis and vice versa
Term
how do retroviruses work?
Definition
retroviruses are RNA viruses that make a DNA copy of their genome. their positive strand RNA geome is transcribed into DNA in the cytoplasm by reverse transcriptase, (by RNA-dependent DNA polymerase that is a core enzyme). the cDNA travels to the nucleus, where it integrates into host chromosomes, transcription of which produces mRNA and genomic RNA
Term
what is the definition of infectious genomes?
Definition
if you put the genome itself into a cell and you can make a viral particle it is infectious, DNA (except pox) and + strand RNA viruses fall into this category, (negative strand RNA viruses have to bring their own RNA-dependent RNA polymerase)
Term
what are non-infectious genomes?
Definition
negative strand RNA viruses, double stranded RNA viruses and retroviruses all fall into this category, (these are where the polymerase is a core enzyme)
Term
how do + strand RNA viruses differ from most other viruses in terms of transcription of viral transcripts?
Definition
the entire mRNA genome is translated as a poly peptide that will be cleaved into individual viral proteins
Term
what are the 3 ways viruses other than + strand mRNA translate their mRNA?
Definition
subgenomic mRNA (smaller pieces), either encode a single viral protein, encode a poly protein that is then cleaved into multiple proteins, or encodes proteins w/overlapping reading frames
Term
how are capsids assembled?
Definition
capsids self-assemble
Term
how are naked viruses/virions released?
Definition
cell lysis
Term
how are enveloped viruses released? from where?
Definition
budding or lysis. they can bud from the plasma membrane ER, golgi, nuclear membrane, all via exocytosis. budding has to occur at a place in the membrane where viral proteins have been incorporated
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