BASIC VIROLOGY

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9.

General characteristics of viruses Viral structure Taxonomy of viruses Isolation,cultivation, and identification of viruses Reaction to physical & chemical agents Viral multiplication Bacteriophage Pathogenesis of viral infections Laboratory diagnostic for viral infections

1.General characteristics of viruses

Learning objective : Differentiate between a virus and a bacterium

1. Contain a single type of nucleic acid : DNA or RNA. 2. Contain a protein coat that surrounds the nucleic acid. 3. Multiply inside living cells by using the synthesizing machinery of the cell obligate intracellular parasites Host range : Host range refers to the spectrum of host cells in which a virus can multiply (vertebrates, plants, bacteria). Host range is determined by the specific attachment site on the host cells surface and the availability of host cellular factors.
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Size : Virus size is ascertained by electron microscopy. Viruses range from 20 to 14,000 nm in length.

Viruses and Bacteria Compared

Bacteria Typical Rickettsias/ Bacteria Chlamydias No Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes No No/Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes/No Yes Yes Yes Yes No No Viruses

Intracellular parasite

Yes

Plasma membrane Binary fission

Pass through bacteriological filters

Posses both DNA and RNA

ATP-generating metabolism Ribosomes Sensitive to antibiotics Sensitive to interferon

No No Yes No No No No Yes 5

2.Viral Structure
Learning objective : Describe the chemical composition and physical structure of both an enveloped and a nonenveloped virus

A virion is a complete, fully developed viral particle composed of nucleic acid surrounded by a coat

Nucleic acid :
Viruses contain either DNA or RNA (never both!!), single or double stranded, linear or circular
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Capsid and envelope : Capsid : protein coat surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus, composed of subunits, capsomers The capsid of some viruses is enclosed by an envelope consisting of lipids, protein, and carbohydrates. Some envelopes are covered with carbohydrateprotein complexes called spikes.
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General morphology Helical viruses (i.e : Ebola virus) : long rods, capsids are hollow cylinders surrounding the nucleic acid. Polyhedral viruses (i.e : adenovirus) : many sided, capsid is an icosahedron

Helical virus

Icosahedral virus

3.Taxonomy of viruses
Learning objectives :
Define viral species Give an example of family, genus, and common name for a virus

Classification of viruses is based on type of nucleic acid, strategy for replication, and morphology Virus family names end in viridae; genus names end in virus A viral species is a group of viruses sharing the same genetic information and ecological niche. Example :
Family Hepadnaviridae Genus Hepadnavirus Species Hepatitis B virus
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Classification of viruses based on type of nucleic acid :

1. 2.

DNA containing viruses Adenovirus Herpesvirus :

HSV-1 & HSV-2 Varicella zoster virus (VZV) Cytomegalovirus Epstein Barr virus

3. 4. 5. 6.

Parvovirus Poxvirus Hepadnavirus Papovavirus

Papillomavirus Polyomavirus

RNA containing viruses 1. Picornavirus 2. Arbovirus 3. Togavirus 4. Flavivirus 5. Rotavirus 6. Rhabdovirus 7. Orthomyxovirus 8. Paramyxovirus 9. Viroid 10.Coronavirus

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Classification of viruses based on cell tropism : Enteric virus : rotavirus Hepatotropic virus : hepatitis virus Respiratoric virus : influenza virus Oncogenic virus : human papilloma virus Neurotropic virus: poliovirus Dermatotropic virus: herpes virus

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4.Isolation, cultivation, and identification of viruses

Learning objectives : List three techniques used to identify virus

The fact that viruses cannot multiply outside a living host cell complicates their detection, enumeration, and identification. Viruses must be provided with living cells instead of a fairly simple chemical medium.

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Growth of animal viruses in the laboratory

1.

In living animals : Some animal viruses can be cultured only in living animals (mice, rabbits, and guinea pigs). Animal inoculation may be used as a diagnostic procedure for identifying and isolating a virus from clinical specimen
To be observed for sign of disease
To be killed for examination of infected tissue

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2.

3.

In embryonated egg Viral growth is signaled by the death of the embryo, by embrio damage, or by the formation of typical pocks or lesion on the egg membranes In cell cultures Cell cultures consist of cells grown in culture media in the laboratory. Viruses infecting a monolayer cell cultures sometimes cause the cells to deteriorate as they multiply cytopathic effect (CPE)

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Detection of virus-infected cells :

Cytopathic effects (morphologic changes in the cells : cell lysis or necrosis, inclusion formation, giant cell formation, cytoplasmic vacuolization) Appearance of virus-encoded protein (hemagglutinin) Adsorption of erythrocytes to infected cells (hemadsorbtion) Interference Morphologic transformation (loss of contact inhibition) Viral growth in an embryonated chick egg (as described previously)
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5.Reaction to physical & chemical agents

Heat & cold : viral infectivity is generally destroyed by heating at 50oC-60oC for 30 Stabilization of viruses by salts : viruses preferentially stabilized by certain salts (MgCl2, MgSO4, Na2SO4) pH : stable between pH values 5.0 - 9.0 Radiation : UV and X-ray inactivate viruses Ether susceptibility : can distinguish viruses that posess an envelope from those that do not. Detergents : solubilize lipid constituent of viral membrane and viral envelope, disrupt capsids Formaldehyde : destroys viral infectivity by reacting with nucleic acid Antibiotics : have no effect on viruses
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6.Viral multiplication
Learning objectives : Compare and contrast the multiplication cycle of DNA and RNA containing virus

1. Attachment 2. Penetration

3. Uncoating
4. Biosynthesis of DNA/RNA viruses 5. Maturation and release

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Multiplication of DNA containing viruses

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Multiplication of RNA containing viruses

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7.Bacteriophage
Learning objective : Describe the life cycle of bacteriophage

Viruses that infect bacteria Function :

Bacterial epidemiology Host-parasite relationship study

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Life cycle of bacteriophage :

Lytic cycle The lytic cycle ends with the lysis and death of the host cell

Lysogenic cycle The host cell remains alive

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8.Pathogenesis of viral diseases

To produce disease, viruses must enter a host, come in contact with susceptible cells, replicate, and produce cell injury.

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Type of viral infections :

Acute viral infections Persistent viral infections:
Chronic infections : virus can be continuously detected; mild or no clinical symptoms may be evident Latent infections: virus persists in an occult or cryptic, form most of the time.

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9.Laboratory diagnostic for viral infections Direct microscopic examination Virus culture Antigen detection Nucleic acid hybridization Serology

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