VIROLOGY

1. CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUSES
Are Viruses Living or Non-living?
 Biologists consider viruses to be non-living because:
– Are not cells
– Do not grow or respond to their surroundings
– Cannot make food, take in food, or produce wastes
– Viruses do not respond to stimuli.
 They can only multiply if in another living cell
What are Viruses?
Definition
 Viruses are noncellular particles made up of genetic material and protein that can
invade living cells.
Discovery of Viruses
Beijerinck (1897) coined the Latin name “virus” meaning poison
Tobacco Mosaic Virus
Wendell Stanley (1935) discovered viruses were made of nucleic acid and protein
Smallpox
Edward Jenner (1796) developed a smallpox vaccine using milder cowpox viruses
Smallpox has been eradicated in the world today
How Big is a Virus?
 Viruses are very small – smaller than the smallest cell.
Characteristics
 Non living structures
 Non-cellular
 Contain a protein coat called the capsid
 Have a nucleic acid core containing DNA or RNA (one or the other - not both)
 Capable of reproducing only when inside a HOST cell
 Some viruses are enclosed in an protective envelope
 Some viruses may have spikes to help attach to the host cell
 Most viruses infect only SPECIFIC host cells
Outside of host cells, viruses are inactive
Viruses cause many common illnesses/ diseases
Some viruses may cause some cancers like leukemia
Viruses cause many common illnesses diseases
Some viruses may cause some cancers like leukemia
What do Viruses look like?
 Viruses are unusual and different from other things in nature.
 Viruses come in a variety of shapes
Some may be helical shape like the Ebola virus
Some may be polyhedral shapes like the influenza virus
Others have more complex shapes like bacteriophages
Types of Viruses:
Helical Viruses

Polyhedral Viruses
 Complex Viruses

Used for Virus

Identification
 Morophology
– RNA or DNA Virus
– Do or do NOT have an envelope
– Capsid shape
– HOST they infect
2. HOST SPECIFICITY
 All kingdoms can be infected by viruses
 Viruses are kingdom specific but they may or may not be species specific
 Spread is specific to the type of virus
 Viruses are parasites.
– A parasite is an organism that depends upon another living organism for its
existence in such a way that it harms that organism.
Bacteriophages
  Lysogenic Cycle
– Viral DNA
– May stay inactive in host for long periods of time
– Long lasting
– Example Mono or chickenpox
 Lytic Cylce
– Short and can be over come
– Example flu virus
Vaccine
 Is a weaken form of the virus
– To expose your immune system to the virus which will allow your body to better
fight off the virus when exposed to the full blow virus.
Other Drug Treatments
Specific to certain viruses.
They don’t cure the virus but they can slow down and inhibit the multiplication of
the virus.
 Lytic Cylce
 Lysogenic Cycle