An Introduction to Viruses

Dr. Linroy Christian

Viruses
Non-cellular genetic element that utilizes cells for its own replication The virus particle consists of nucleic acid (genetic material) surrounded by a protein coat (capsid)
Nucleic acid + capsid = nucleocapsid The mature virus is also called a virion

Some viruses may have a lipid outer membrane (envelope) acquired from the host cell The nucleic acid can be either DNA or RNA Outside the cell the virus particle is metabolically inactive and does not carry out any metabolic functions

Viruses
Once inside the host, virus reproduction occurs
The virus genetic material is reproduced and the components that make up the virus coat are made

When a virus genome is introduced into the host cell and is reproduced the process is called infection The cell that the virus can infect is called a host The viruses rely heavily on the host machinery for replication

Virus Reproduction
(1) Attachment
Virus recognizes host cell receptor Attaches to the host cell

(2) Penetration
Injects genetic material into the host cell

(3) Early Steps in Replication

Host cell machinery is altered in preparation of virus nucleic acid synthesis Virus-specific enzymes may be made Some RNA viruses (retroviruses) utilize Reverse Transcriptase to make DNA from RNA

Virus Reproduction
(4) Replication
The virus nucleic acid is reproduced

(5) Synthesis of Proteins

Virus protein coat is made

(6) Assembly
Virus protein coat is assembled and virus is packaged

(7) Release
Mature virus is released from the cell

Virus Reproduction

Ve

Lytic vs. Lysogenic

Classes of Virus
Animal Plant Bacterial (Bacteriophages)

Virus Structure
Icosahedral
Symmetrical structure Roughly spherical is shape with 20 faces Herpes virus, poliovirus

Helical
Protein and nucleic acid interact to form a coiled, ribbon-like structure Influenza virus, rabies virus, measles virus

Complex
Composed of separate parts with separate shapes and symmetries Poxvirus, bacteriophages

Viruses may or may not have an outer membrane (envelope) derived from the host cell

Virus Structure

Viral Structure

Virus Classification
Based on the structure and composition of the virus particle as well as the mode of replication
DNA viruses (Herpesviridae) RNA viruses (Retroviridae, Orthomyxoviridae) Double-stranded RNA viruses (Reoviridae)

Prions
An infectious particle comprised only of proteins All known prion diseases affect the structure of the brain or neural tissue and are untreatable and fatal Cause abnormal folding of normal prion proteins in the brain Diseases do not produce an inflamatory response Typical prion diseases
Scrapie sheep Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Mad Cow disease Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) humans Kuru - humans

Viroids
Comprised only of RNA
Single-stranded, circular

RNA is not packaged Associated with plant diseases Not known to be associated with human disease