Properties, Structure and

Classification of Viruses

Fourth Medical, 2007

Prof. Widad Al-Nakib, FRCPath.
 Introduction
• Definition: Viruses are obligate
intracellular parasites.Viruses never
contain both nucleic acids, unlike other
microorganisms.
• Classification: Main sub-classification
is either DNA or RNA containing
viruses,e.g. herpes are DNA, polio is
RNA.
• Viridae: Virus family, e.g.
herpesviridae for the herpesviruses,
and picornaviridae for polioviruses.
 Physico-Chemical Properties
• Genome - DNA or RNA.
• Nucleocapsid - proteins coating the genome
• Capsid - outer protein shell
• Envelope - lipid outer coat derived from the
cell in which the virus replicates. Not present
on all viruses. While the lipid membrane is
cell coded, viral proteins, usually glycoproteins
are inserted into the membrane, e.g.
hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A.
• Viruses which contain envelopes are usually
less stable than those that do not, e.g. herpes
viruses, which do and polio and human
papillomaviruses (wart viruses),which do not.
 Herpesviruses
(Enveloped DNA Viruses)
Structure of Enveloped Viruses
HIV Surface View
 Morphology (Symmetry)

1. Icosahedral -The protomeres aggregate in groups of five

or six to form the capsomere. In electron micrographs,
capsomeres are recognized as regularly spaced rings with a
central hole. The shape and dimensions of the
icosahedrons depends on characteristics of its protomeres.
• All icosahedral capsids have 12 corners each occupied
by a penton capsomere and 20 triangular faces, each
containing the same number of hexon capsomeres.
Icosahedral symmetry is identical to cubic symmetry
Icosahedral Structure
 Enteroviruses
(Icosahedral RNA Viruses)
Rhinovirus 14 Surface Structure
 Contd..
2. Helical -The protomeres are not grouped in
capsomeres, but are bound to each other so as to
form a ribbon-like structure. This structure
folds into a helix because the protomeres are
thicker at one end than at the other.
• The diameter of the helical capsid is
determined by characteristics of its
protomeres, while its length is determined by
the length of the nucleic acid it encloses.
Helical Symmetry
 contd..

4. Spikes. These are glycoprotein projections

which have enzymatic and/or adsorption
and/or hemagglutinating activity. They arise
from the envelope and are highly antigenic.
Adenovirus Icosahedral Capsid
Schematic View
 Contd.

3. Complex e.g., that exhibited by poxvirus

and rhabdovirus. This group comprises all
those viruses which do not fit into either of
the above two groups.
Poxvirus (Complex DNA Virus)
 Rabies Virus
(Complex RNA Virus)
 Steps in the Replicative Cycle of
Viruses
1. Attachment - through a receptor. Specific: CD4 on T-cells
for HIV
ICAM on upper respiratory epithelial cells -Rhinoviruses (common
cold)
Immunoglobulin-like receptors -polio virus

2. Entry - receptor-mediated endocytosis, e.g. influenza and

adenovirus
-membrane fusion,e.g. herpesviruses and paramyxoviruses
–translocation across membrane,e.g. polioviruses

3. Uncoating - triggered by pH changes in endosomes, e.g.

Influenza A virus

4. Replication & viral protein production- early

proteins: control the next phase of replicative cycle, e.g. genome
replication and late protein
Virus Replication
HIV Life Cycle
Virus Release
 Effect of Virus Infection on Cells

(1) Cell Death: The cytopathic effect of viruses can be

seen in cultured cells and also in the whole
animal,e.g.respiratory viruses destroy respiratory
epithelium and polio virus destroys anterior horn
cells in spinal column, causing paralysis.
(2) Little Direct Effect: Some viruses produce very
little cell death, e.g. hepatitis B virus does not cause
pathology in the liver. Most of the damage is caused
by the host's immune response to the viral infection.
(3) Cell Transformation:Viruses can also
transform cells leading to cancers –Human
papillomaviruses (genital cancers); Hepatitis B
virus ( hepatoma); Epstein Barr virus (Burkitt's
lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma), Human T-
cell Leukemia virus (HTLV I &II).
 DNA Viruses
• Herpesviridae
-Herpes simplex virus type
1(HSV-1)
(aka HHV-1). Encephalitis, cold
sores, gingivostomatitis, herpetic
whitlow
-Herpes simplex virus type 2
(HSV- 2)
(aka HHV-2). Genital herpes,
meningitis/encephalitis
-Varicella-zoster virus (VZV)
 DNA Viruses
- Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) (aka HHV-4).
Mononucleosis, hepatitis, tumors (NPC, BL)
- Human cytomegalovirus (CMV) (aka
HHV-5).
Mononucleosis, hepatitis, pneumonitis,
congenital infections, infections in
immunocompromised patients
- Human herpes virus 6 (HHV-6) (aka
E.subitum), Roseola infantum,
pneumonitis
- Human herpes virus 7 (HHV-7).
Infections in children including roseola
infantum
- Kaposi ’s sarcoma associated
herpesvirus
Herpetic Lesions on Mouth
Herpetic Whitlow
Herpetic Whitlow
Herpes Labialis
Genital Herpes- Female
Genital Herpes - Male
Varicella (Chickenpox)
Zoster (Shingles)
AIDS Kaposi's Sarcoma
 DNA Viruses
• Adenoviridae
-Human adenoviruses. 50 serotypes
(species); respiratory infections,
keratoconjunctivitis
• Papovaviridae
-Human papilloma viruses (HPV). 80
species: warts & tumors; including cervical
carcinoma
-Polyomavirus JC, BK viruses. Mild
usually, JC causes PML in AIDS, BK causes
nephropathy in kidney transplant patients
• Hepadnaviridae
-Hepatitis B virus (HBV). Hepatitis
Warts on the Hand
Viral Hepatitis
Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC)
 DNA Viruses
• Poxviridae
-Vaccinia virus, Smallpox virus,
Orf. Skin lesions (‘pocks ’)
• Parvoviridae
-B19 parvovirus. Erythema
infectiosum (fifth disease), aplastic
crisis of sickle cell anaemia, fetal
loss, rashes
• Circoviridae
-TT virus, may be associated with
some cases of "non-A to G“ hepatitis
Smallpox Pustular Rash
 “Fifth” Disease
( Erythema Infectiosum)
 RNA Viruses
• Paramyxoviridae
-Mumps virus. Mumps: Parotitis,
aseptic meningitis, (rare:orchitis,
encephalitis)
-Parainfluenza viruses. Common colds,
bronchiolitis, pneumonia (4 types)
-Measles virus. Measles: fever, rash,
pneumonia
(rare:encephalitis, SSPE)
-Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
Common colds (adults), bronchiolitis,
pneumonia (infants)
Mumps
Mumps Parotitis
Measles
Measles Rash in Adult
Measles Rash
 RNA Viruses
• Orthomyxoviridae
-Influenzavirus A and B. Flu, fever, myalgia,
malaise, cough, pneumonia
• Rhabdoviridae
-Rabies virus. Rabies: long incubation, then
CNS disease
• Filoviridae
-Ebola and Marburg viruses. Hemorrhagic
fevers
• Retroviridae
-Human T cell leukemia (lymphotropic) virus
types I and II (HTLV-I and II), HTLV-1: Adult T-
cell leukemia (ATL) &Tropical Spastic
Paraparesis (TSP)
-Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV-1, HIV-
 RNA Viruses
• Togaviridae
-Rubella virus. Mild rash, congenital fetal
defects
-Equine encephalitis viruses (e.g.VEE).
Mosquito-borne, encephalitis
• Flaviviridae
-Yellow fever virus.
Mosquito-borne; fever, hepatitis (yellow
fever!)
-Dengue virus. Mosquito-borne;
hemorrhagic fever
-Hepatitis C (HCV). Hepatitis (often
Rubella Rash on Face -Adult
Rubella Maculopapular Rash
Congenital Rubella
 RNA Viruses

• Reoviridae
-Human rotaviruses. Gastroenteritis
including diarrhoea (numerous serotypes)
• Bunyaviridae
-Hantavirus. Pulmonary syndrome,
pulmonary illness (‘Four Corners ’
outbreak); hemorrhagic fever with renal
syndrome
-Rift Valley Fever virus. Mosquito-borne;
hemorrhagic fever
 RNA Viruses

• Arenaviridae
-Lymphocytic choriomeningitis
virus.
Rodent-borne; fever, aseptic meningitis
-Lassa virus. Rodent-borne; severe
hemorrhagic fever.
• Unclassified
-Hepatitis delta virus (HDV). Requires
HBV; hepatitis, liver cancer
 RNA Viruses
• Picornaviridae
-Polioviruses (3 types). Aseptic
meningitis, paralytic poliomyelitis
-Echoviruses (32 types). Aseptic
meningitis, rashes
-Coxsackieviruses (30 types). Aseptic
meningitis, myopericarditis, hand foot
and mouth disease
-Hepatitis A virus (HAV). Acute
hepatitis
(fecal-oral spread)
-Rhinoviruses (>115 types). Common
Poliomyelitis
Hand Foot and Mouth Disease
 RNA Viruses
• Caliciviridae
-Norwalk virus. Gastrointestinal illness
including diahorrea
- Hepatitis E virus. Hepatitis (acute),
faecal-oral route transmission.
• Coronaviridae
-Human coronaviruses. Mild common
cold-like illness, SARS
• Astroviridae
-Human astroviruses. Gastroenteritis