Viruses are the smallest infectious agents and contain only one kind of nucleic acid (RNA or DNA)

as their genome
The nucleic acid is encased in a protein shell, which may be surrounded by a lipid-containing membrane
The entire infectious unit is termed a virion
Viruses are parasites at the genetic level, replicating only in living cells and are inert in the extracellular
environment
The viral nucleic acid contains information necessary to cause the infected host cell to synthesize virus-specific
macromolecules required for the production of viral progeny

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Schematic diagram illustrating the components of the complete virus particle (the virion)
A: Enveloped virus with icosahedral symmetry. Not all icosahedral viruses have envelopes
B: Virus with helical symmetry

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Shapes and relative sizes of animal viruses of families that infect vertebrates

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Enveloped viruses: outermost covering is made up of glycoproteins, lipids and proteins Eg: Influenza virus
Less virulent, rarely causes cell lysis and sensitive to environmental factors, more stable
Non-enveloped viruses: outermost covering is made up of capsid. Eg: Adenovirus
More virulent, causes cell lysis and resistance to environmental factors, induce antibodies and can survive in GIT
and less stable

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This lecture focuses on the medically relevant non-enveloped RNA viruses

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Picornaviruses represent a very large virus family with respect to the number of members but one of the smallest
in terms of virion size and genetic complexity
They include two major groups of human pathogens: enteroviruses and rhinoviruses
Enteroviruses are transient inhabitants of the human alimentary tract and may be isolated from the throat or lower
intestine
Rhinoviruses are associated with the respiratory tract and isolated chiefly from the nose and throat
Less common picornaviruses associated with human illness include hepatitis A virus, parechovirus, cardiovirus, and
Aichi virus
Several genera of picornaviruses are also associated with animal, plant, and insect disease

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Picornaviruses represent a very large virus family with respect to the number of members but one of the smallest
in terms of virion size and genetic complexity
They include two major groups of human pathogens: enteroviruses and rhinoviruses
Enteroviruses are transient inhabitants of the human alimentary tract and may be isolated from the throat or lower
intestine
Rhinoviruses are associated with the respiratory tract and isolated chiefly from the nose and throat
Less common picornaviruses associated with human illness include hepatitis A virus, parechovirus, cardiovirus, and
Aichi virus
Several genera of picornaviruses are also associated with animal, plant, and insect disease

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No animal reservoirs are known for the human enteroviruses

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