General Properties of Viruses a complete virus particle or virion consists of one or more molecules of DNA or RNA enclosed in a coat

t of protein, and sometimes also in additional layers of carbohydrates, lipids and proteins obligate intracellular parasites viruses can exist in 2 phases: extracellular and intracellular. Virions, the extracellular phase, possess few if any enzymes and cannot reproduce independent of living cells. In the intracellular phase, viruses exist primarily as replicating nucleic acids that induce host metabolism to synthesize virion components; eventually complete virus particles or virions are released. Cultivation of Viruses viruses cannot be cultured in the same way as bacteria and eukaryotic microorganisms Virus Cultivation Using an Embryonated Egg

Four General Morphologic Types of Capsids and Virion Structure 1. ICOSAHEDRAL in shape. An icosahedron is a regular polyhedron with 20 equilateral triangular faces and 12 vertices. These capsids appear spherical when viewed at low power in the electron microscope.

2. Terms and Definition in Virology capsid the protein shell or coat, that encloses the nucleic acid genome capsomeres morphologic units seen in the electron microscope on the surface of icosahedral virus particles. Capsomeres represent clusters of polypeptides, but the morphologic units do not necessarily correspond to the chemically defined structural units. envelope a lipid-containing membrane that surrounds some virus particles. It is acquired during viral maturation by a budding process through a cellular membrane. Virus-encoded glycoproteins are exposed on the surface of the envelope. These projections are called peplomers. nucleocapsid the protein-nucleic acid complex representing the packaged form of the viral genome. The term is commonly used in cases where the nucleocapsid is a substructure of a more complex virus particle. structural unit the basic protein building blocks of the coat. They are usually a collection of more than one nonidentical protein subunit. The structural unit is often referred to as a protomer. subunit a single folded viral polypeptide chain virion the complete virus particle. In some instances (e.g. papillomaviruses, picornaviruses), the virion is identical with the nucleocapsid. In more complex virions (herpesviruses, orthomyxovirus), this includes the nucleocapside plus a surrounding envelope. This structure, the virion, serves to transfer the viral nucleic acid from one cell to another. General Structural Properties all virions are constructed around a nucleocapsid core which is composed of a nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA, hold within a protein coat called the capsid, which protects viral genetic material and aids in its transfer between host cells.

HELICAL shaped like hallow protein cylinders, which may be either rigid or flexible.

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ENVELOPE an outer membranous layer surrounding the nucleocapsid. Enveloped viruses have a roughly spherical but somewhat variable shape even though their nucleocapsid can be either icosahedral or helical. Viral Glycoproteins o viral envelopes contain glycoproteins o they are virus-encoded in contrast to the lipids in viral membranes which are derived from host cells. o They attach the virus particle to a target cell by interacting with a cellular receptor o Involved in the membrane fusion step of infection o Also important as viral antigen o Frequently involved in the interaction of the virus particle with neutralizing antibody Examples of Enveloped Viruses Human Influenza Virus

Diagram of the influenza virion

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COMPLEX VIRUSES have capsid symmetry that is neither purely icosahedral nor helical. They may possess tails and other structures (e.g. many bacteriophages) or have complex, multilayered walls surrounding the nucleic acid (e.g. poxviruses such as vaccinia)

Vaccinia Virus Morphology

RNA

Classification of Viruses Basis of Classification: virion morphology, including size, shape, type of symmetry, presence or absence of peplomers, and presence or absence of membranes. Virus genome properties, including type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA), size of genome in kilobases (kb) or lkilobase pairs (kbp), strandedness (single or double) whether linear or circular, sense (positive, negative, ambisense), segments (number, size) nucleotide sequence, G+C content, and presence of special features (repetitive elements, isomerization 5terminal covalently linked proteins 3-terminal poly(A) tract) Physiochamical properties of the virion, including molecular mass, buoyant density, pH stability, thermal stability, and susceptibility to physical and chemical agents, especially ether and detergents. Virus proteins properties including number, size and functional activities of structural and nonstructural proteins, amino acid sequence, modifications (glycosylation, phosphorylation) and special functional activities (transcriptiase, reverse transcriptase, neuraminidase, fusion activities). Genome organization and replication, including gene order, number and position of open reading frames, strategy of replication (patterns of transcription, translation) and cellular sites (accumulation of proteins, virion assembly, virion release) Antigenic properties Biological properties, including natural host range, mode of transmission, vector relationships, pathogenicity, tissue tropisms, and pathology. Families of Animal Viruses that contain Members able to Infect Humans DNA icosahedral o naked o Virus Family: Parvoviridae Polyomaviridae Pappillomaviridae Adenoviridae o Enveloped o Virus Family: Hepadnaviridae Herpesviridae

Icosahedral o Naked o Virus Family: Picornaviridae Astroviridae Caliciviridae Reoviridae o Enveloped o Virus Family: Togaviridae Unknown or complex o Enveloped o Virus Family: Flaviviridae Arenaviridae Coronaviridae Retroviridae Helical o Enveloped o Virus Family: Orthomyxoviridae Bunyaviridae Bornaviridae Rhabdoviridae Paramyxoviridae Filoviridae

Atypical Virus-like Agent 1. Defective virus o composed of viral nucleic acid and proteins but cannot replicate without a helper virus, which provides the missing function o they usually have a mutation or deletion of part of their genetic material 2. Pseudovirions o contain host cell DNA instead of viral DNA within the capsid o they are formed during infection with certain virues when the host cell DNA is fragmented and pieces of it are incorporated within the capsid protein o contain host cell DNA instead of viral DNA within the capsid o they are formed during infection with certain viruses when the host cell DNA is fragmented and pieces of it are incorporated within the capsid protein o can infect cells, but they dont replicate 3. Viroids

o o o 4. Prions o o o o o o o

consist solely of a single molecule of circular RNA without a protein coat on envelope they replicate but mechanism is unclear cause plant disease but are not implicated in any human disease are infectious particles that are composed solely of proteins (no detectable nucleic acid) causes certain slow disease called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies resistant to inactivation by ultraviolet light, heat, formaldehyde and nucleases are infectious particles that are composed solely of proteins (no detectable nucleic acid) causes certain slow diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies resistant to inactivation by ultraviolet light, heat, formaldehyde and nucleases inactivated by hypochlorite, NaOH, and autoclaving

Viral Replication Cycle two approaches to describe viral replication cycle o Growth curve o Stepwise description of the specific events within the cells during virus growth Events o o o ECLIPSE PERIOD time during which no virus is found inside the cell LATENT PERIOD time from the onset of infection to the appearance of the virus extracellularly CYTOPATHIC EFFECT (CPE) lysis and death of infected cells, but not all virus cause CPE, some can replicate causing little morphologic or functional change in the cell

structural viral proteins stimulate the formation of antibodies not only as components of virus particles but also as components of virus particle subunits (capsomers, nucleocapsids, and in the free state) the range of antiviral antibodies formed under conditions when viruses can and cannot multiply differs greatly if a virus cannot multiply, either because it has been inactivated or because the host is not susceptible, only antibodies against surface components of the virus particle are usually formed if a virus can multiply, not only is far more antibody formed because progeny virus will also act as antigen, but also the range of antibodies produced is much wider. Viruses that belong to the same genus or major antigenic group share common determinants, the groupspecific antigens, that are generally located on (internal) the virus By contrast, the most specific or individual viral antigenic determinants are usually located on external or surface components of virus particles, these are the type-specific antigens that identify individual virus strains

Interaction of Virus with Neutralizing Antibody Antibodies against viral surface components neutralize infectivity, these are the neutralizing antibodies that protect against disease. They usually persist in the body for many years, probably because the viruses are not totally eliminated from the body but set up inapparent persistent infection that generate small amounts of viral antigens that continue to stimulate antibody production Complexes of viral protein and antibody often fix complement Antibody determination by complement fixation is particularly useful for detecting abortive viral infections when only part of the genetic information present in the viral genome is expressed and no virus particles are produced When antibody drops, a secondary or anamnestic response to virus generally boosts their titers to very high levels very rapidly, so that no second cycle of infection ensues. This explains the fact that animals generally contract any particular viral disease only once (except common colds and influenza) Hemaglutination inhibition many viruses can agglutinate red blood cells, because their cell attachment proteins interact with receptors on the red blood cell surface. Immune Response to Viral Infection Viral infections elicit both humoral and cell-mediated responses from the immune system IMMUNE ENHANCEMENT much more serious infection in individual who have already been exposed to the virus and who therefore possess some antibody against it, that in individuals who have never been infected Virus-Antibody complexes causing diseases quite unrelated to those caused by virus alone

Specific Events During The Growth Cycle Attachment and Penetration by parental virion Uncoating (of) viral genome Early viral mRNA synthesis Early viral protein synthesis Viral Genome replication Late viral mRNA synthesis Late viral protein synthesis Progeny virion assembly VIrion release from cell many viral proteins are good antigens