VIROLOGY

Ridha Wahyutomo, MD Dept. Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Disease

Viruses are the smallest infectious agents (20-300 nanometers) Possess only one kind of nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA as their genome Capable of replication only within living cells (genetic parasites)

Viral Structure
Capsid
Covering

Virus Particle Central Core

Envelope
Nucleic Acid

Others

General Structure of Viruses

Size range
most <0.2 m; requires electron microscope

Virion fully formed virus able to establish an infection

Prions - misfolded proteins, contain no nucleic acid

cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies fatal neurodegenerative diseases common in animals:

scrapie in sheep & goats bovine spongiform encephalopathies (BSE), aka mad cow disease wasting disease humans Creutzfeldt-Jakob Syndrome (CJS)

Extremely resistant to usual sterilization techniques

Other noncellular infectious agents

Satellite viruses dependent on other viruses for replication

adeno-associated virus replicate only in cells infected with adenovirus delta agent naked strand of RNA expressed only in the presence of hepatitis B virus

Viroids - short pieces of RNA, no protein coat; only been identified in plants, so far

Viral Structure: Covering

FUNCTIONS:
Protects the nuclear material Responsible for introduction of viral nucleic acid into a suitable host cell Stimulates the immune system

Viral Structure: Covering - CAPSID

CAPSID: The outer protective shell

The most prominent geometric feature Composed of identical protein subunits CAPSOMERS Formed by spontaneous self-assembly of capsomers

Viral Structure: Naked Viruses

Viral Structure: Covering ENVELOPE

Formed when the viral particle carries off a part of the host cells membrane (any part of the endomembrane system may be used) SPIKES or PEPLOMERS

Protein spikes protruding through the envelope from the capsid Essential for attachment to the next host

Viral Structure: Enveloped Viruses

Viral Structure: Central Core Nucleic Acids

Genetic material of the particle Viruses may contain either DNA or RNA BUT NOT BOTH DNA or RNA may exist as single or double-stranded

Viral Morphology
Helical Icosahedral

Viral Morphology
Enveloped Complex

Modes of Viral Multiplication

Adsorption - binding of virus to specific molecule on host cell Penetration - genome enters host cell Uncoating the viral nucleic acid is released from the capsid Synthesis viral components are produced Assembly new viral particles are constructed Release assembled viruses are released by budding (exocytosis) or cell lysis

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Release budding exocytosis; nucleocapsid binds to membrane which pinches off and sheds the viruses gradually; cell is not immediately destroyed lysis nonenveloped and complex viruses released when cell dies and ruptures Number of viruses released is variable
3,000-4,000 released by poxvirus >100,000 released by poliovirus

Cytopathic effects - virus-induced damage to cells

Changes in size & shape Cytoplasmic inclusion bodies Nuclear inclusion bodies Cells fuse to form multinucleated cells. Cell lysis Alter DNA Transform cells into cancerous cells

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Persistent Infections
Persistent infections - cell harbors the virus and is not immediately lysed Can last weeks or hosts lifetime; several can periodically reactivate chronic latent state

measles virus may remain hidden in brain cells for many years herpes simplex virus cold sores and genital herpes herpes zoster virus chickenpox and shingles

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Some animal viruses enter host cell and permanently alter its genetic material resulting in cancer transformation of the cell. Transformed cells have increased rate of growth, alterations in chromosomes, and capacity to divide for indefinite time periods resulting in tumors. Mammalian viruses capable of initiating tumors are called oncoviruses. Papillomavirus cervical cancer Epstein-Barr virus Burkitts lymphoma

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Lysogeny
Lysogeny results in the spread of the virus without killing the host cell. Phage genes in the bacterial chromosome can cause the production of toxins or enzymes that cause pathology lysogenic conversion.

Corynebacterium diphtheriae Vibrio cholerae Clostridium botulinum

Lysogeny

Modes of entry

Respiratory tract though inhalation Gastrointestinal tract Skin Sexual Direct contact Transfusion of blood

Effects of virus on the host cell

CPE or cellular effect Transformation of normal cell to malignant cell Latent infection Clumping of RBC

Some of the Medically Important Viruses

Family Genus Common Name of Genus Members
Herpes simplex 1&2 virus Varicella zoster virus Adenoviridae Papovaviridae

Disease

DNA Viruses Herpesviridae

Simplexvirus

Cold sores, genital herpes Chicken pox Colds, URI Warts

Mastadenovirus Papillomavirus

Human adenovirus Human papillomavirus (HPV) Hepatits B virus

Hepadnaviridae

Hepadnavirus

Serum hepatitis

Some of the Medically Important Viruses

Family Genus Common Name of Genus Members Poliovirus Hepatitis A virus Disease

RNA Viruses
Picornaviridae

Enterovirus Hepatovirus

Poliomyelitis Short-term hepatitis

Togaviridae Flaviviridae Filoviridae

Rhinovirus Alphavirus Flavivirus Filovirus Influenza virus Paramyxovirus Lyssavirus Lentivirus

Coronavirus

Human rhinovirus
Rubella virus Dengue fever virus Ebola virus

Common colds
German measles Dengue fever Ebola fever

Orthomyxoviridae
Paramyxoviridae Rhabdoviridae Retroviridae Coronaviridae

Influenza virus
Measles virus Rabies virus HIV SARS virus

Influenza
Measles Rabies AIDS SARS