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(An Autonomous Institution affiliated to Bharathiar University)

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Recognized by UGC with 2(f) &12(B), Under Star College Scheme by DBT, Govt. of India)
Nehru Gardens, Thirumalayampalayam, Coimbatore - 641 105, Tamil Nadu.

TOPIC:
Morphology Pathogenesis & Lab diagnosis of
Polio virus

Virology & Mycology

Class:2nd M.Sc Microbiology

Submitted by Submitted to
SALU KS Dr. S. Meenatchisundaram Sir

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 INDEX
S.No. CONTENT PAGE NO.
1 Introduction 3
2 Morphology 4
3 Structure 5
4 Pathogenesis 6
5 Lab diagnosis 8
6 Conclusion 10
7 References 11

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INTRODUCTION
• Poliovirus, the causative agent of polio (also
known as poliomyelitis), is a serotype of the species
Enterovirus C, in the family of Picornaviridae.
Poliovirus is composed of an RNA genome and a
protein capsid. The genome is a single-stranded
positive-sense RNA genome that is about 7500
nucleotides long. The viral particle is about 30 nm in
diameter with icosahedral symmetry. Because of its
short genome and its simple composition—only
RNA and a nonenveloped icosahedral protein coat
that encapsulates it, poliovirus is widely regarded as
the simplest significant virus.
Poliovirus was first isolated in 1909 by Karl
Landsteiner and Erwin Popper. The structure of the
virus was first elucidated using x-ray diffraction by a
team at Birkbeck College led by Rosalind
Franklin,showing the polio virus to have icosahedral
symmetry. In 1981, the poliovirus genome was
published by two different teams of researchers: by
Vincent Racanielloand David Baltimore at MITand
by Naomi Kitamura and Eckard Wimmer at Stony
Brook University.
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MORPHOLOGY
Polio viruses are small, about 300 angstroms in
diameter, and are comprised of an icosahedral protein
coat and a single-stranded positive sense RNA genome.
The poliovirus capsid contains 60 copies each of the
four viral polypeptides VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4.
• The arrangement of proteins in the capsid creates
icosahedral symmetry. The virion surface is covered
with star-shaped mesas at its fivefold axes surrounded
by deep canyons and three-bladed propellers. Pvr is a
member of the nectin family of CAM-like cell surface
proteins and consists of an N-terminal ectodomain with
three immunoglobulin-like domains, a transmembrane
domain and either of two splice variant C-terminal
cytoplasmic domains.
• Cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) reconstructions
of virus-receptor complexes demonstrate that the
receptors bind with their N-terminal ectodomains
inserted into the canyons surrounding the fivefold axes
Poliovirus contains a single-stranded plus-sense RNA genome
within an icosahedral capsid composed of 60

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copies each of four coat proteins, VP1, VP2, VP3, and VP4.
• Poliovirus is composed of an RNA genome and a protein
capsid. The genome is a single-stranded positive-
sense RNA genome that is about 7500 nucleotides long. The
viral particle is about 30 nm in diameter with
icosahedral symmetry. ... Poliovirus was first isolated in 1909 by
Karl Landsteiner and Erwin Popper.

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PATHOGENICITY

Poliovirus (PV) is the causal agent of paralytic

poliomyelitis, an acute disease of the central nervous
system (CNS) resulting in flaccid paralysis. The
development of new animal and cell models has
allowed the key steps of the pathogenesis of
poliomyelitis to be investigated at the molecular
level.
• Infection with poliovirus begins when the virus is
ingested and multiplies in the oropharyngeal and
intestinal mucosa .Virus shed in the feces of infected
individuals is largely responsible for transmission of
infection.
• From the primary sites of multiplication in the
mucosa, virus drains into cervical and mesenteric
lymph nodes and then to the blood, causing a
transient viremia. Most natural infections of humans
end at this stage with a minor disease comprising
nonspecific symptoms such as sore throat, fever, and
malaise.
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• Replication at extraneural sites is believed to
maintain viremia beyond the first stage and increase
the likelihood of virus entry into the central nervous
system. Such extraneural sites might include brown
fat, reticuloendothelial tissues, and muscle . In 1–2%
of infected individuals, the virus enters the central
nervous system and replicates in motor neurons
within the spinal cord, brain stem, or motor cortex.
Viral replication in motor neurons within the spinal
cord leads to the characteristic muscle paralysis.

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LAB DIAGNOSIS
• Poliovirus can be detected in specimens from the
throat, feces (stool), and occasionally cerebrospinal
fluid (CSF) by isolating the virus in cell culture or by
detecting the virus by polymerase chain reaction
(PCR).
CDC laboratories conduct testing for poliovirus,
including:
• Culture
• Intratyphic differentiation
• Genome sequencing
• Serology
Serology may be helpful in supporting the diagnosis
of paralytic poliomyelitis, particularly if a patient is
known or suspected to not be vaccinated. An acute
serum specimen should be obtained as early in the
course of disease as possible, and a convalescent
specimen should be obtained at least 3 weeks later.
Detection of poliovirus in CSF is uncommon. CSF
usually contains an increased number of leukocytes
[from 10 to 200 cells/mm3 (primarily lymphocytes)]

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and a mildly elevated protein (from 40 to 50
mg/dL). These findings are nonspecific
and may result from a variety of infectious and
noninfectious conditions.

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CONCLUSION
Polio virus are prototypic members of the genus
Enterovirus15 . Three poliovirus serotypes exist, and
infection with each confers serotype-specific,
lifelong immunity to disease but little or no
immunity to infection or disease caused by
heterologous serotypes.Before the introduction of
poliovirus vaccines, most paralytic disease was
caused by type 1 Naturally occurring (wild-type)
polioviruses, live-attenuated OPV viruses, and
virulent polioviruses derived from OPV strains
(cVDPV) may circulate in different populations,
depending on whether endemic transmission of
wild-type polioviruses has been eliminated, on
whether OPV is used, and on the vaccine-induced
immunity rates in the population.Humans are the
only natural host and reservoir of polioviruses.
Experimental infections and paralysis can be
produced in other primates, polioviruses can be
adapted to replicate in subprimate mammals, and
transgenic mice expressing the poliovirus receptor
(PVR) can be paralyzed by injection into

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REFERENCE
1. Ananthanarayanan and Panikers Text Book Of Microbiology

2. Essential of medical microbiology – Apurba Sankar SSastry

3. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/poliovirus

4. https://www.google.com/search?q=poliovirus&oq=POLIOVIRUS&aqs=chr
ome.0.0l8.5923j0j4&sourceid=ch

5. • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poliovirus

6. • https://www.virology.ws/2004/08/18/poliovirus/

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 Thank you

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