INTRODUCTION TO VIROLOGY VARICELLA VIRUS (Chicken pox) VARIOLA (Small Pox) RUBEOLA (Measles) RUBELLA (German Measles) MUMPS

MUMPS (Mumps Virus) Also called as Epidemic Parotitis HAV or HEPATITS A VIRUS (Hepatitis A)

OBJECTIVES: 1. Define Virology 2. Define Virus 3. Identify the General Characteristics of Viruses. 4. Identify the Structure and respective functions 5. Identify the Symmetry of Viruses.

REASONS for Studying Virology Some viruses cause disease Some viruses are useful *Some viruses undergo into therapy in which they are converted to anticancer agents. Virus study have contributed to knowledge

DEFINITION OF VIROLOGY Virology is a branch of science that studies viruses and virus-like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in research and therapy.

Definition of Virus Latin- virus which means poison

A virus is a small infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of other organisms. Viruses can infect all types of life forms.

General Characteristics Cellular, non cytoplasmic infectious agents Smaller than bacteria (10-100 times smaller than bacteria) Viruses contain only a single type of nucleic acid either DNA or RNA. Viruses can multiply only within the living host cells. Structure and their respective function Structure of Viruses Viruses have a very simple structure. The core of the viruses is made upon of nucleic acid Surrounded by a protein coat called CAPSID. The nucleic acid always contains only a single kind of nucleic acid i.e. either DNA or RNA. The infectious property of a virus is due to its nucleic acid.

CAPSID made up of many identical protein sub-units called capsomeres. Capsomeres are arranged in a very symmetrical manner and give a specific shape to a particular virus. The host specificity of virus is due to proteins of the capsid.

STRUCTURE and their respective function

CASPID (HEAD)- protection of the genome of the virus; recognition and attachment PROTEINS: modify host-cell processes so as to maximize viral replication. NUCLEIC ACID- mainly for replication of viruses at the host cell. TAIL: facilitates very high viral infection efficiency. ****Which is composed of:

TAIL SHEATH: The contraction of the sheath drives the tail tube through the outer membrane, creating a channel for the viral genome delivery. TAIL FIBERS: The tail fiber is a thin relatively long end found in viruses and consists of a protein tail. The tail functions as a tiny syringe that is use to inject the viruses genetic material and also used in attachment. TAIL PINS: Anchors virus to host END PLATE: involves also in the attachment of the virus to the host SPIKES: functions for the attaching the virus to the receptor of the host cell

SYMMETRY OF VIRUSES *Nucleocapsid- important structural component of viruses which is the basis for the symmetry of viruses ICOSAHEDRAL 20 faces, each an equilateral triangle; 12 vertices, each formed where the vertices of five triangles meet; 30 edges, at each of which the sides of two triangles meet. May be enveloped or non-enveloped Examples: Adenovirus, herpes simplex virus

HELICAL Appear rod-shaped in EM Examples: Tobacco mosaic virus, coronaviruses, Helical patterns --Simple/Straight (Rabies Virus) --Coiled (Measles Virus)

COMPLEX Surface structure- composed of tubular proteins

Bounded by external membrane Dumbell shaped inner structure Also contains helical nucleocaspid Examples: Poxviruses and arenaviruses