Guiding Questions for Viruses

1. Are viruses alive?

2. How does virus size compare to bacteria or human cells?
3. What is a virion?
4. What is the difference in naked vs enveloped viruses?
5. What is a capsid made of? What are the different shapes?
6. Why are spikes important?
7. Which (enveloped vs naked) is more resistant to changes in temp, pH, disinfectants?
8. What kind of genomes can viruses have?
9. What is the difference in + vs – sense RNA viruses?
10. What is the difference in RNA vs DNA viral replication?
11. List of the steps of viral infection:
a. Adsorption- involves the specific spike and host cell receptor
i. What is host range?
b. Penetration- endocytosis and uncoating
c. Synthesis (replication) – replication of DNA or RNA and protein synthesis
d. Release- budding or exocytosis
12. Watch this video about pandemics: https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/01/flu-influenza-h3n2-
virus-outbreak-vaccine-spd/
a. What are the 2 types of seasonal flu?
b. What does the H and N stand for and what is its function?
c. What is the difference between antigenic drift and shift? Which is more concerning?
d. Why is it important to study the flu?
e. How does Tamiflu work?
13. What is an oncogenic virus?
14. What is a bacteriophage?
15. What is the difference between lytic and lysogenic cycles of bacteriophage?