Survey of RNA-containing

viruses

MUHAMMAD SHOAIB
Ph.D. Scholar Molecular Microbiology
Senior Lecturer MLT
Riphah International University
Email: shoaib.uaar@gmail.com
 Picornaviruses

• Picornaviruses are small (28–30 nm), ether-resistant viruses exhibiting

cubic symmetry.

• The RNA genome is single stranded and positive sense (it can serve as
an mRNA) and is 7.2–8.4 kb in size.

• The groups infecting humans are enteroviruses (polioviruses,

coxsackieviruses, echoviruses, and rhinoviruses [more than 100
serotypes causing common colds]) and hepatovirus (hepatitis A).

• Rhinoviruses are acid labile and have a high density; other

enteroviruses are acid stable and have a lower density.
 Hepeviruses
• Hepeviruses are similar to caliciviruses.

• The particles are small (27–34 nm) and ether

resistant.

• The genome is single-stranded, positive-sense

RNA, 7.2 kb in size. It lacks a genome-linked
protein (VPg).

• Human hepatitis E virus belongs to this group.

 Reoviruses
• Reoviruses are medium-sized (60–80 nm), ether-resistant,
nonenveloped viruses having icosahedral symmetry.
• Particles have two or three protein shells with channels
extending from the surface to the core; short spikes extend
from the virion surface.
• The genome is linear, double-stranded, segmented RNA (10–
12 segments), totaling 16–27 kbp in size.
• Individual RNA segments range in size from 680 bp to 3900
bp.
• Replication occurs in the cytoplasm; genome segment
reassortment occurs readily.
• Reoviruses of humans include rotaviruses, which have a
distinctive wheel-shaped appearance and cause
gastroenteritis.
• Antigenically similar reoviruses infect many animals.
• The genus Coltivirus includes Colorado tick fever virus of
humans.
 Flaviviruses

• Flaviviruses are enveloped viruses, 40–60 nm in diameter,

containing single-stranded, positive-sense RNA.

• Genome sizes vary from 9.5 kb (hepatitis C) to 11 kb

(flaviviruses) to 12.5 kb (pestiviruses).

• Mature virions accumulate within cisternae of the endoplasmic

reticulum.

• This group of arboviruses includes yellow fever virus and

dengue viruses.

• Most members are transmitted by blood-sucking arthropods.

• Hepatitis C virus has no known vector.

 Coronaviruses
• Coronaviruses are enveloped 120- to 160-nm particles containing an
un-segmented genome of positive-sense, single stranded RNA, 27–32
kb in size; the nucleocapsid is helical, 9–11 nm in diameter.

• Coronaviruses resemble orthomyxoviruses but have petal-shaped

surface projections arranged in a fringe, similar to a solar corona.

• Coronavirus nucleocapsids develop in the cytoplasm and mature by

budding into cytoplasmic vesicles.

• These viruses have narrow host ranges.

• Most human coronaviruses cause mild acute upper respiratory tract

illnesses—“colds”—but a new coronavirus identified in 2003 causes a
severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

• Toroviruses, which cause gastroenteritis, form a distinct genus.

Coronaviruses of animals readily establish persistent infections and
include mouse hepatitis virus and avian infectious bronchitis virus
 Paramyxoviruses

• Paramyxoviruses are similar to but larger (150–300 nm) than

orthomyxoviruses. Particles are pleomorphic.

• The internal nucleocapsid measures 13–18 nm, and the linear,

single-stranded, non-segmented, negative-sense RNA is 16–20 kb
in size.

• Both the nucleocapsid and the hemagglutinin are formed in the

cytoplasm.

• Those infecting humans include mumps, measles, parainfluenza,

viruses.

• These viruses have narrow host ranges.

• In contrast to influenza viruses, paramyxoviruses are genetically

stable.
 Viroids
• Viroids are small infectious agents that cause diseases of
plants.
• Viroids are agents that do not fit the definition of classic
viruses.
• They are nucleic acid molecules without a protein
coat.
• Plant viroids are single-stranded, covalently closed circular
RNA molecules consisting of about 360 nucleotides and
with a highly base-paired rodlike structure.
• Viroids replicate by an entirely novel mechanism.
• Viroid RNA does not encode any protein products; the
devastating plant diseases induced by viroids occur by an
unknown mechanism.
• To date, viroids have been detected only in plants; none
have been demonstrated to exist in animals or humans.
 Prions
• Prions are infectious particles composed solely of protein
with no detectable nucleic acid.

• They are highly resistant to inactivation by heat,

formaldehyde, and ultraviolet light that inactivate viruses.

• The prion protein is encoded by a single cellular gene.

• Prion diseases, called “transmissible spongiform

encephalopathies,” include scrapie in sheep, mad cow
disease in cattle, and kuru and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in
humans.

• Prions do not appear to be viruses.

Thanks