Collection of Virology

General Properties of Viruses

 They do not have a nucleus and do not have organelles such as ribosomes, or mitochondria.
 They are the smallest infectious agents known, ranging from 20 to 300 nm in diameter.
 They can infect man, animals, insects, plants, and bacteria.
 They contain one kind of nucleic acid (RNA or DNA) as their genome.
 They are metabolically inert.
 They are obligate intracellular parasites i.e. can only replicate inside living cells.
Structure of viruses

Virus replication
Enveloped viruses Non-enveloped viruses
- It is the attachment of the virus on the host cell.
Adsorption - It needs specific molecular structures on the viral surface and specific receptors on the
host cells.
Occurs by fusion of viral envelope Occurs by crossing the plasma membrane directly or
Penetration with cell membrane by receptor-mediated endocytosis

Uncoating - It is the release of viral nucleic acid by cellular enzymes.

Viral gene
- Transcription is the synthesis of mRNA from viral nucleic acid.
expression and - It is carried out by cellular enzymes or by viral enzymes.
protein synthesis
Viral nucleic acid
The viral nucleic acid replicates by using a strand of the parental nucleic acid as a template
synthesis for the production of progeny DNA or RNA molecules.
(replication)

Assembly of viral nucleic acid and protein coats to form mature virus particles occurs in the
Assembly cytoplasm or the nucleus.

By budding through the outer cell By rupture of the cell membrane and release of the
Release membrane. mature particles.

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Herpes viruses (Eight human herpes viruses are known)

Herpes simplex viruses
HSV-1
Mode of
Transmitted primarily in saliva
transmission
Mainly orofacial lesions
Causes the following:
- Acute gingivostomatitis:
characterized by fever and vesicular
lesions in the mouth.
- Herpes libialis (cold sores):
Primary characterized by crops of vesicles,
infection usually at the mucocutaneous junction
of the lips or nose.
- Keratoconjunctivitis, encephalitis.
- Disseminated infections: such as
pneumonia in immunocompromised.
Latency Trigeminal ganglia
Varicella-Zoster
HSV-2 virus (VZV)
By sexual contact
Genital lesions
Causes the following:
- Genital herpes:
vesiculo-ulcerative
lesions on the external
genitalia as well as the
cervix.
- Neonatal infection:
Neonatal herpes forms
a severe generalized
disease often involving
the CNS.
Sacral ganglia
Epstein Barr
Cytomegalovirus
virus (EBV)
- Most infected by oral - Can be transmitted
- Respiratory route
route (Saliva) vertically or horizontally.
- Coughing
- (Kissing disease) - Virus is secreted in the
- Breathing
- Sneezing
- Blood transfusions saliva, urine, blood,
- Bone Marrow transplants semen, cervical discharge,
- Skin lesions
- Sexually transmitted and other body fluids.
Varicella or Chickenpox - Infectious - One of the most
- A mild febrile illness with mononucleosis (IM): successful human
a characteristic vesicular Fever, headache, malaise, pathogens.
rash which on the trunk, pharyngitis
limbs and face. - There are two clinical
lymphadenopathy and
- Vesicles appear in increased levels of liver situations, that may
successive waves so that the enzymes in the blood. cause serious disease;
lesions of different stages - EBV and malignancies: congenital infection &
are present together. Burkitt’s lymphoma immunosuppressed
Nasopharyngeal patients.
carcinoma
Oral hairy leukoplakia:
benign lesion of the tongue
Trigeminal and dorsal
root ganglia
B cells Bone marrow

Zoster or shingles
- Can occur more - Painful vesicles along the - Once infected, the
May lead to: frequently, and is course of a sensory nerve of person carries the
the head or the trunk - Results in initiation
Reactivation - Cold sores often asymptomatic
(a belt of roses from hell). of the viral lytic cycle.
virus for life which
- Keratitis but still results in may be activated from
- The pain can last for weeks
viral shedding. and post-zoster neuralgia time to time.
may exist.
- Varicella Zoster
immunoglobulin (VZIG):
in immunocompromised
people exposed to the
Prevention virus.
- VZV vaccine: is
recommended for children
1 to 12 years of age.
Treatment Acyclovir
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Mode of Laboratory
Morphology Pathogenesis Vaccination
transmission diagnosis
- Vertical transmission - virions are 42nm in - The virus replicates in the I-Viral antigens 1) Active immunization:
- Sexual transmission diameter. liver and virus particles, as - Surface antigen (HBsAg) Two types are available:
- Parenteral transmission - Enveloped d/s DNA well as excess viral surface Its presence in serum - Serum derived: from
• Blood transfusion - Surrounded by an outer protein, are shed in large indicates that virus HBsAg purified from the
replication is occurring in serum of HBV carriers.
(At least six viruses infect and damage hepatocytes)

• Body piercing coat is termed (surface amounts into the blood.

• Tattooing antigen) or (HBsAg)
- Household contacts - (HBeAg)
- Needle stick injury - (HBcAg) present in the
- IV drug abusers core.
- Only (HBsAg) & (HBeAg)
are found in the blood of
infected people.
Hepatitis Viruses
- Viremia is prolonged and
the blood of infected
individuals is highly
infectious.
- Incubation period 2 - 5
months.
- HBV tends to cause
more severe hepatitis
than other hepatitis
the liver.
- “e” antigen (HBeAg)
Its presence in serum
indicates that a high level of
viral replication is occurring
in the liver.
II- Antibody response
- Surface antibody (anti-
HBs) Indicates immunity
following infection or
- Recombinant HBsAg:
Recombinant HBsAg
vaccines produced in yeast
have been available, and are
now most widely used.
- Administration of 3 doses
induces protective levels of
antibodies in 95% of
vaccine recipients.
- Give to Health care

HBV viruses. vaccination.

workers – Sexual partners
of chronic carriers – Infants
- “e” antibody (anti-HBe) of HBV carrier mothers.
becomes detectable as viral
replication falls. 2) Passive Immunization:
- Core IgM - For saving patients.
rises early in infection and - Hepatitis B
indicates recent infection. immunoglobulin should be
- Core IgG administered to non-
• Remains present for life in immune individuals
both chronic carriers as well following single episode
as those who clear the exposure to HBV-infected
infection. blood e.g. needle stick
• Its presence indicates injuries.
exposure to HBV.
• Cross the placenta
- The major cause of
parenterally transmitted
non A non B hepatitis.  In Egypt, most studies found that at least 15% of the adult population
- Blood transfusion - Enveloped RNA have antibodies to HCV making it the most common viral infection and
HCV - Organ donation may be the most important health problem in Egypt.
- IV drug abusers
- Other methods occur at
a very low rate.
HAV
Enteric (intestinal)
HEV
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Retroviruses
Human Immunodeficiency Viruses (HIV 1 & 2)
- As HBV
Mode of transmission - There is no evidence that the virus is transmitted by (Insects – Casual contact direct or indirect including toilets
or swimming pools – Saliva – Kissing – Sharing of eating and drinking utensils).
• HIV attacks CD4 T helper cells.
• Death and fusion of cells (syncytial formation) → depletion of T helper cells → marked suppression of the
Pathogenesis immune response.
• Macrophages and monocytes also express receptors on their surfaces → infection.
• It is believed that the virus survives in these cells which transport it to other organs (e.g. brain, lungs).
1) Primary (Acute) infection 2) Asymptomatic phase 3) Prodromal phase 4) AIDS [Final crisis]
[Flu-like] [Feeling fine] [Falling count] - Constitutional disease:
- Flu-like illness - Symptoms and signs of - Insidious onset of a fever, diarrhea, weight loss and
symptoms include fever, night sweats, infection disappear for a variety of prodromal skin rashes.
sore throat, lymphadenopathy & variable duration disorders called ARC - Neurological disease:
Clinical presentations diarrhea. (up to 10 years or more) (AIDS Related dementia and peripheral
- Difficult to diagnose HIV infection - Patients are clinically well, Conditions) neuropathy.
(HIV Stages) due to lack of antibodies. but infectious (latent - Opportunistic infections - Immunodeficiency: increased
[Four Fs] infection). such as Candidiasis, susceptibility to opportunistic
- Diagnosis may be done persistent diarrhea…etc. infections (fungal, protozoal,
if a blood sample of those - These symptoms precede viral and bacterial).
persons is examined for the progression to AIDS - Rare malignancies: Kaposi
antibodies against HIV. syndrome. sarcoma, oral hairy leukoplakia
and lymphomas.
Serology: PCR:
- Screening of blood for antibodies to HIV is first done by ELISA Used mainly for detection of viral genome in suspected
which is very sensitive test. sero-negative samples and before and during therapy.
- Positive results should be confirmed using more specific tests
HIV Testing like Western Blot (WB).
- Detection of p24 antigen:
ELISA test to detect the viral antigen p24 which is important to
diagnose infection.
 Treatment for AIDS or HIV infection is available but very expensive.
 AIDS needs both symptomatic treatment and specific treatments for HIV and also for other pathogens causing opportunistic
infections.
Management  Anti-HIV drugs include RT inhibitors, Protease inhibitors & Integrase inhibitors.
 New treatments include gene therapy and cytokines.
 Attempts to make an effective AIDS vaccine have not been successful thus far.

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DNA viruses RNA viruses

(Double stranded) (Single stranded)

Non-enveloped Non-Enveloped
Enveloped viruses Enveloped viruses
viruses viruses
• Orthomyxoviruses
• Herpes viruses • Picornaviruses • Paramyxoviruses
• Adenoviruses
• Hepadnavirus; • Reoviruses • Coronaviruses
• Papillomaviruses
Hepatitis B virus • Parvoviruses Only (double stranded) • Rhabdoviruses
• Pox viruses Only (Single stranded) • Calciviruses • Retroviruses
• Filoviruses