Virology

Classification
not usually classified into conventional taxonomic groups but are usually

grouped according to properties such as size, the type of nucleic acid they contain, the
structure of the capsid and the number of protein subunits in it, host species, and
immunological characteristics.

when a new species of known virus family or genus is investigated it can be done in
the context of the information that is available for other members of that group.

The current classification scheme allows most newly described viruses to be labelled

Two classification systems exist: The Hierarchical virus classification system and the
Baltimore Classification System.
Classified based on:
1. Virion morphology - size, shape, symmetry, presence of peplomers, presence of
membrane
2. Virus genome DNA or RNA, size, strandedness, segments
3. Physicochemical properties of the virion molecular mass, bouyant density, stability
& susceptability
4. Antigenic properties
5. Virus protein properties number, size, activities
6. Biological properties host range, MOT, vector relationships, pathogenicity, tissue
tropism & pathology








F FA AM MI IL LY Y E EN NV VE EL LO OP PE E S SY YM MM ME ET TR RY Y D DN NA A
S ST TR RU UC CT TU UR RE E
I IM MP PO OR RT TA AN NT T
V VI IR RU US SE ES S
P Pa ar rv vo ov vi ir ru us s - - I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l S SS S, , l li in ne ea ar r B B1 19 9 v vi ir ru us s
P Pa ap po ov va av vi ir ru us s - - I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l D DS S, , c ci ir rc cu ul la ar r H HP PV V, , P Po ol ly yo om ma a
A Ad de en no ov vi ir ru us s - - I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l D DS S, , l li in ne ea ar r A Ad de en no ov vi ir ru us se es s
H He ep pa ad dn na av vi ir ru us s + + I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l D DS S, ,
i in nc co om mp pl le et te e
c ci ir rc cu ul la ar r
H He ep pa at ti it ti is s B B v vi ir ru us s
H He er rp pe es sv vi ir ru us se es s + + I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l D DS S, , l li in ne ea ar r H HS SV V, , V VZ ZV V, , C CM MV V, ,
E EB BV V, , H HH HV V6 6
P Po ox xv vi ir ru us se es s + + C Co om mp pl le ex x D DS S, , l li in ne ea ar r V Va ac cc ci in ni ia a, , V Va ar ri io ol la a, ,
M Mo ol ll lu us sc cu um m
c co on nt ta an ng gi io os su um m

Structure

VIRAL NUCLEIC ACID (GENOME)
o contain the genetic material necessary for replication
o either a DNA or RNA
o maybe single-stranded or double-stranded
o can be linear or circular
o Segmented or nonsegmented
o haploid contain only one copy of their genes EXCEPT Retroviruses
o used as major criterion in the classification of viruses
CAPSID
o protein coat made up of repeating subunits CAPSOMERES (gives the virus
its geometric symmetry)
o 2 forms of symmetry:
1. icosahedral capsomeres arranged in 20 triangles
2. helical arranged in a hollow coil that appears rod-shaped
o Functions of the viral capsid:
1. protect the genetic material
2. site of receptors mediate attachment
3. serve as antigenic determinants
4. induce antibody production
5. determinants of type specificity
6. Provide the structural symmetry of the virus
ENVELOPE
o a lipoprotein derived from the host cell membrane & virus specific protein
o composed of glycoproteins (peplomers) that appear as spikes
o Acquired through budding from the hosts cell membrane in the course of
maturation
o Confers instability to the virus because of the loss of infectivity due to
disruption or loss of lipid more sensitive to heat, detergents & lipid solvents
o Functions:
1. site of receptors attach to host cell receptors & membrane fusion
2. antigenic determinants
3. stimulate antibody production
4. determinants of type specificity








F FE EA AT TU UR RE E P PR RI IO ON NS S C CO ON NV VE EN NT TI IO ON NA AL L V VI IR RU US SE ES S
N Nu uc cl le ei ic c a ac ci id d N No o Y Ye es s
P Pr ro ot te ei in n Y Ye es s, , e en nc co od de ed d b by y
c ce el ll lu ul la ar r g ge en ne es s
Y Ye es s, , e en nc co od de ed d b by y v vi ir ra al l g ge en ne es s
H He ea at t I In na ac ct ti iv va at ti io on n N No o Y Ye es s
A Ap pp pe ea ar ra an nc ce e A Am my yl lo oi id d- -l li ik ke e I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l o or r h he el li ic ca al l
A An nt ti ib bo od dy y R Re es sp po on ns se e N No o Y Ye es s
I In nf fl la am mm ma at to or ry y R Re es sp po on ns se e N No o Y Ye es s
Morphology
I Ic co os sa ah he ed dr ra al l N Na ak ke ed d S SS S
S SS S
S SS S
D DS S s se eg gm me en nt te ed d
P Pi ic co or rn na av vi ir ri id da ae e
A As st tr ro ov vi ir ri id da ae e
C Ca al li ic ci iv vi ir ri id da ae e
R Re eo ov vi ir ri id da ae e

E En nv ve el lo op pe ed d S SS S T To og ga av vi ir ri id da ae e
U Un nk kn no ow wn n o or r
c co om mp pl le ex x
E En nv ve el lo op pe ed d S SS S
S SS S s se eg gm me en nt te ed d
S SS S
S SS S d di ip pl lo oi id d
F Fl la av vi iv vi ir ri id da ae e
A Ar re en na av vi ir ri id da ae e
C Co or ro on na av vi ir ri id da ae e
R Re et tr ro ov vi ir ri id da ae e
H He el li ic ca al l E En nv ve el lo op pe ed d S SS S s se eg gm me en nt te ed d
S SS S
O Or rt th ho ov vi ir ri id da ae e, , B Bu un ny ya av vi ir ri id da ae e
R Rh ha ab bd do ov vi ir ri id da ae e, ,
P Pa ar ra am my yx xo ov vi ir ri id da ae e, ,
F Fi il lo ov vi ir ri id da ae e

Physiology.

Being an obligate parasite, the virus requires a living host cell for existence.

When a virus comes into contact with a susceptible host cell, it becomes attached to
the surface.

The virus or its nucleic acid then enters the host cell, where it takes control and
utilizes the protoplasm of the host cell to produce new virus particles.

The new virus particles then invade additional host cells, and multiplication
continues.

There is no cell division in the growth and reproduction of viruses.

A new virus is formed by chemical synthesis of the viral nucleic acid and capsid
proteins (replication).

Host cells that have been attacked by a virus may be completely destroyed, or they
may suffer little or no harm.

Diseases
common cold, influenza, chickenpox and cold sores.
Chickenpox
Flu (influenza)
Herpes
Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
Mumps, measles and rubella
Shingles
Stomach Flu
Viral hepatitis, meningitis, pneumonia