Midterm Lesson 1: Introduction to Virology  A VIRUS is either DNA or RNA, that is protected by

a protein coat called a CAPSID.

 Lack both cellular structure and independent
Characteristic of Cellular Life metabolic processes.
 Replicate solely by exploiting living cells based on
the information in the viral genome.
1. Compartmentalization and metabolism
- Cells take up nutrients from the environment,
transform them, and release wastes into the
environment. The cell is thus an open system

1. Reproduction (growth)
- Chemicals from the environment are turned
into new cells under the genetic direction of
preexisting cells.

2. Differentiation
- Some cells can form new cell structures such
as a spore, usually as part of a cellular life cyle
3. Communication
- Cells communicate or interact by means of
chemical that are released or taken up.
4. Movement
- Some cells are capable of self-population
5. Evolution
- Cells contain genes and evolve to display new
biological properties. Phylogenetic trees show
the evolutionary relationship between cells.
VIRUSES
 Non-living organisms
 Only nucleic acid
 A virus is an obligate intracellular parasite
containing genetic material surrounded by
protein
 Virus particles can only be observed by an
electron microscope
CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUS
Size 25nm to 250x350 nm
Genome DNA or RNA. Double-stranded or
single-stranded nucleic acid
depending on the species
Structure Viruses are complexes comprising
virus-coded protein and nucleic acid;
some viral species carry cell-coded
components (membranes, t-RNA)
Reproduction Only in living cells. The virus supplies
the information in the form of
nucleic acids and in some cases a few
enzymes; the cell provides the
remaining enzymes, the protein
synthesizing apparatus, the chemical
building blocks, the energy, and the
structural framework for the
synthetic steps.
Antibiotics Viruses are unaffected by antibiotics,
but can be inhibited by interferon
and certain chemotherapeutic agents

 The classification of viruses is based on the

type of nucleic acid contained within
– RNA viruses---also known as a retrovirus
– Or DNA viruses

ICTV (International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses)

Comparative Sizes of Viruses and Bacteria
Different virus spp. are shown inside the E.coli
bacterium
Viral Structure – Overview
Schematic overview of the structure of animal
viruses
** does not exist in all viruses
Virion- a mature virus particle containing a nucleic acid
core surrounded by a protein coat
*Capsid – protects the nucleic acid from
degradation
Components
 Genome: DNA or RNA, DS or SS, Linear or Circular
 Capsid: Virus coded proteins enclosing the nucleic
acid of the virus w/c consist of many subunits
named capsomers (subunits of proteins)
Capsid can be helical, icosahedral
 Envelope or naked
 Naked Virus – doesn’t have envelope
- Capsin will be attached to host cell
GENOME
 The DNA or RNA genome may be :
 RNA – single stranded or
 DNA – double stranded
 Genomes may be either:
 (+) sense: Positive-sense viral RNA is identical to
viral mRNA and thus can be immediately
translated into protein by the host cell.
 Direct messenger
OR
 (-) sense: cannot be translated into proteins
until it transcribed into complimentary strand.
Negative-sense viral RNA is complementary to
mRNA and thus must be converted to positive-
sense RNA by an RNA polymerase before
translation.
Capsid
 Shell of virus coded that enclosed Nucleic acid.
 Protects the nucleic acid from degradation
 Attachment of viruses to Host cells except
enveloped viruses
Helical Capsids
 Helical capsids are rod-like structures with the RNA
in the center of the helix. A helix is made by
stacking repeating units in a spiral.
Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) is an example of a virus
with a helical structure. Protein subunits wrap around
the spiraling RNA strand
Envelope Virus
 Surrounds the capsid
 Both cell coded and viral proteins are integrated in
the membrane when these elements are
transformed into the envelope, frequently in the
form of “spikes”
 Enveloped viruses do not adsorb to the host cell
with the capsid, but rather with their envelope.
 * Viruses do not breathe.

Other components * Viruses do not metabolize.

 Enzymes. Viruses require a number of different * Viruses do not grow.

enzymes depending on genome type and mode of
Are Viruses Living?
infection. In several virus species enzymes are a
component of the virus particle Properties of Living Properties of Viruses
Organisms
Breathes (respires) Doesn’t breath
 Hemagglutinin. Some viruses are capable of Metabolizes Doesn’t metabolize
agglutinating various different human or animal Grows Doesn’t grow
erythrocytes. Viruses bear a certain surface protein Repoduces Replicates
(hemagglutinin) in their envelope that enables them
to do this.
Cell
Ex. H1N1
 Plays a decisive role in adsorption and penetration The cell has three main zones:
of the virus into the host cell.
 Nucleus
 Cytoplasm
 Membrane
Enveloped Virus

Viral Structure
 Varies in size, shape and symmetry
 3 types of capsid symmetry:
 Cubic (icosahedral)
 Has 20 faces, each an equilateral
triangle. Eg. adenovirus
 Helical
 Protein binds around DNA/RNA in a
helical fashion eg. Coronavirus
 Complex
 Is neither cubic nor helical eg. Poxvirus
DNA/RNA
 DNA or RNA code for genes that defines who we
are.
 DNA, deoxyribonucleic acid, is the double-stranded
molecule that encodes genetic information (e.g.
your hair color, height, etc.) in the nucleus of cells.
The complete set of DNA in a cell is called the
genome.
 RNA, ribonucleic acid, is typically single stranded so
that it can be read to make proteins.
Why are some viruses harmful?
Virus invades cell

Virus forces cell to make copies of virus

Eventually so many copies are made, the cell explodes,
releasing all of the new viruses

* When your cells make viruses instead of operating

The concept of a virus as an organism challenges the
normally, YOU get sick
way we define life:
Examples of some viral diseases: 4. Components of phage are assembled into
mature infective virions. The eclipse period end
DISEASE VIRUSES
with first appearance of infective phage in cell
AIDS HIV
5. Cell wall opens up due to enzymatic action to
Wart Herpes Simplex Virus
release mature virions.
Flu Influenza
Burst size is the number of units released by
Muscles Morbillivirus
cell. Total time: 40 minutes
Cancer Hepatitis B

Who do viruses infect? Viral Replication

Viruses usually infect a specific host including
Lytic Cycle
 Viruses infect Bacteria
1. Virus attaches to the host cell
 Viruses infect Plants
2. The virus or just its nucleic acid enters the cell
 Viruses infect Animals
3. The virus takes over the cellular machinery,
 Dermotrophic- skin
directing it to construct viral components
 Neurotrophic- nerve tissue
4. Viral components are put together
5. The cell lysis (or bursts) releasing the viruses to
go infect other cells
How do viruses replicate?

REPLICATION
 The steps in viral replication are as follows:
 Adsorption of the virus to specific receptors on
the cell surface
 Penetration by the virus and intracellular
release of nucleic acids
 Proliferation of the viral components: virus-
coded synthesis of capsid and non-capsid
proteins, replication of nucleic acid by viral and
cellular enzymes
 Assembly of replicated nucleic acid and new
capsid protein
 Release of virus progeny from the cell (end Lysogenic Cycle
product is Cell Burst – cell death)
1. Virus attached to the host cell
2. The viral nucleic acid enters the cell
3. The viral nucleic acid inserts into the host cell’s
The Lytic cycle of a virulent bacteriophage DNA.
1. Adsorption- Phage virion is adsorbed to specific 4. ENTERS A LATENT STAGE
site on bacterial cell wall. This is Time Zero 5. The virus is hiding out in the host DNA waiting
2. Phage DNA enters cell to initiate Eclipse Stage. for a signal to become active
Bacterial DNA begins to disintegrate within 6. If the cell divides, it first replicated its DNA
minutes 7. Then splits into two cells
3. Phage capside, tails, and DNA begin to appear (Binary Fission-asexual reproduction)
within 12 minutes as phage nutrients cell
metabolism to its own fabrication processes.
Lysogenic  Lytic
1. The viral nucleic acid excises itself from the host  Since viruses can transport DNA and RNA into cells,
cell’s DNA scientists are exploring Gene Therapy
 In Gene Therapy, viral genetic material is replaced
with new DNA
 In time, this could be used to cure genetic diseases.
Currently we have no cure for these types of
illnesses

Diagram of Gene Therapy

2. New viral components constructed

3. Viral components are assembled

4. Host cell lyses (bursts) releasing viruses Ex Vivo Gene Therapy

*Sometimes when the virus leaves one cell it is slightly
different from when it entered

Viruses Can Help Cells, Too