MODULE 3F – VIRUS

VIRUSES
• are obligate intracellular pathogens in that they must enter
a cell to replicate.
• vary in size from 10 to 300 nm in diameter.
• only seen under electron microscopes
VIRIONS
• “Complete virus particles”.
• very small and simple in structure.
• extracellular form of the virus that is not capable of
reproduction but is capable of infecting.
• The simplest form of human viruses consists of nothing
more than nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat (the
capsid).
VIRAL STRUCTURE
• All viruses have a protein coat (capsid)
o Composed of
repeating
capsomeres
(building blocks of
capsid) / small
protein units • RNA VIRUSES
o just like a messenger RNA (mRNA)
o In some viruses, o RNA virus enters a host cell, its RNA can immediately
covered with
be translated by the host’s ribosomes into protein
lipoprotein
• DNA VIRUSES
envelope
o Unlike RNA, DNA cannot be translated directly into
o 2 types of capsids: proteins. It must be transcribed into mRNA with
icosahedral and helical subsequent translation of mRNA into structural
o Nucleic acid genome + capsid = nucleocapsid proteins and enzymes

o Surface proteins: attachment to host cell receptors

GENERAL PROPERTIES & CHARACTERISTICS OF VIRUSES
• viruses possess either DNA or RNA, never both
• unable to replicate (multiply), make protein and nucleic • CATEGORIES OF VIRUSES
acid on their own; only when it has been introduced into o based on the type of genome they possess
the host cell. (1) double-stranded DNA
(2) single-stranded RNA
o There are no ribosomes for protein synthesis or sites
(3) single-stranded DNA
of energy production. Hence, the virus must invade
(4) double-stranded RNA
and take over a functioning cell to produce new virions.
o based on the shape of genome:
They depend on the ribosomes, enzymes, and
metabolites ("building blocks) of the host cell • (1) Circular
(2) Linear
• do not divide by binary fission, mitosis, or meiosis. o based on the shape of capsids
• Can’t metabolize because they lack the genes and (1) polyhedral / icosahedral – many sided; have 20
enzymes for energy production sides or facets;
(2) helical – coiled tubes
VIRAL GENOME (3) bullet shaped
• Contain either DNA or RNA, but not both. (4) spherical
(5) complex
• Genomes can either be single-stranded or double-
stranded.
 MODULE 3F – VIRUS
VIRAL REPLICATION PROCESS
• Attachment of the virus to the cell
o can attach only to cells bearing the appropriate protein
or polysaccharide receptors on their surface.
o can attach to and invade only cells that bear a receptor
that they can recognize.
o ex: Influenza A virus attaches to sialic acid residues on
the surface of mucosal cells. Since cells of the
respiratory tract are rich in sialic acid, influenza
infection begins in the respiratory tract.
• Penetration
o the entire virion usually enters the host cell, sometimes
because the cell phagocytizes the virus (Fig 4-7) or
sometimes by fusion with the cell membrane (Fig 4-8)
• Uncoating
o the viral nucleic acid escapes from the capsid.
o the viral nucleic acid "dictates" what occurs within the
host cell
• Biosynthesis
o based on the type of genome they possess
o whereby many viral pieces (viral nucleic acid and viral
proteins) are produced.
o Some viruses do not initiate biosynthesis right away
but rather remain latent within the host cell for variable
periods.
• Assembly
o involves fitting the virus pieces together to produce
complete virions.
• Release
o virus escapes from the cell - How do they escape?
o virus destroys the host cell → symptoms associated
with infection of that virus
o budding → become surrounded with pieces of the cell
membrane becoming enveloped viruses.
ENVELOPED VIRUSES
• outer envelope composed of lipids and polysaccharides.
MODULE 3F – VIRUS

• Inclusion bodies
o remnants of infected cells which may be found in the
cytoplasm or within the nucleus
o ex: (a) Negri bodies – cytoplasmic inclusion bodies in
nerve cells of cells infected with rabies (b) Owl eyes –
intranuclear IB for CMV

LATENT VIRUS INFECTIONS

• infectious disease that may go from symptomatic to
asymptomatic, then sometime later go back to
symptomatic.
• refers to the moment the infectious disease kept lie low
right before going symptomatic again
• not currently manifesting
• ex: In Herpes virus infections, the infected person is
always harboring the virus in nerve cells, the cold sores
come and go. Fever, stress, or excessive sunlight can
trigger the viral genes to take over the cells and produce
more viruses; in the process, cells are destroyed and a
cold sore develops. - ex: Shingles, caused by Varicella-
Zoster virus (VZV), occurs after a chickenpox infection
(also called varicella).
• The virus can remain latent in the human body for many
years. When the body's immune defenses become
weakened by old age or disease, the latent chickenpox
virus resurfaces to cause shingles.
 MODULE 3F – VIRUS
ONCOGENIC VIRUSES/ONCOVIRUSES
• Viruses that cause cancer.
• common examples:
o Epstein Barr Virus - nasopharyngeal carcinoma;
Burkitt lymphoma; B-cell lymphoma
o Human Herpes Virus 8 – Kaposi’s Sarcoma
o Hepatitis B & Hepatitis C – Hepatocellular
Carcinoma
o Human Papilloma Virus – Cervical Cancer
o Human T Lymphotrophic Virus – 1 – adult T- cell
leukemia
HOW DO VIRUSES CAUSE DISEASES?
• viruses can infect only the cells bearing appropriate
surface receptors. Thus, viruses are specific as to the
type of cell(s) that they can infect. For this reason, certain
viruses cause only respiratory infections, whereas others
cause only gastrointestinal infections, and so on.
• Viruses multiply within host cells, and it is during their
escape from those cells-by either cell lysis or budding-that
the host cells are destroyed. This cell destruction leads to
most of the symptoms of the viral infection, which vary
depending on the location of the infection.
• Other symptoms are due to immunologic injury (injury that
results from the immune response to the viral pathogen).
• Ex: HIV destroys the CD4 T-helper cells of the immune
system leading to immunosuppression. This makes the
host susceptible to other infectious pathogens.
 MODULE 3F – VIRUS
COMMON VIRUSES AFFECTING MAN
VIRUS TRANSMISSION DISEASE SPECTRUM
NAKED DNA VIRUSES
PARVOVIRIDAE: The smallest DNA virus; the only DNA virus that is single-stranded.
Parvovirus B-19 - Respiratory Droplets a. Erythema Infectiosum
- Transplacental - bright red cheek rash (‘slapped cheek”) w/ fever coryza, and sore throat
b. Aplastic Crisis
- stops the production of RBCs in the marrow
ADENOVIRIDAE
Adenovirus - Respiratory Droplets URT: Pharyngitis, conjunctivitis, coryza LRT: bronchitis, atypical
- Fecal-oral pneumonia GIT: acute gastroenteritis
- Direct contact w/
respi secretions
PAPOVAVIRIDAE: The second smallest DNA virus
Human - Direct contact w/ lesion - Infect squamous cells through genes that encode proteins that
Papillomavirus - Sexual contact inactivate tumor suppressor genes & promote viral DNA replication
(HPV) - HPV 6 and 11: Genital warts, MC viral STD
- HPV 16 and 18: Carcinoma of the cervix
ENVELOPED DNA VIRUSES
HERPESVIRIDAE
Herpes Simplex HSV 1: saliva or direct - Vesicle filled with virus particles and cell debris
Virus (HSV) contact with lesions - HSV-1: Herpes labialis (lips, outer mouth area)
HSV 2: sexual contact or - HSV-2: Genital herpes; Neonatal herpes (TORCH)
transvaginal
Varicella Zoster - direct contact w/ - Infects the URT, then spreads via the blood to the skin
Virus (VZV) vesicular lesions - Becomes latent in the dorsal root ganglia, which may reactivate as
- Respiratory Droplets Shingles
- airborne spread of VARICELLA /CHICKEN POX
vesicle fluid or - acute, generalized viral Infection, with fever and a skin rash. Vesicles
secretions of the are also formed in the mucous membranes. It Is usually a mild, self-
respiratory system limiting disease.
- Vesicular rash (‘dewdrop on a rose petal appearance’) that begins
on trunk; spreads to face and extremities (centrifugal) with lesions
of different stages

HERPES ZOSTER / SHINGLES

- reactivation of the varicella virus, often the result of immunosuppression
- Shingles Involves inflammation of sensory ganglia of cutaneous sensory
nerves, producing fluid-filled blisters, pain, and paresthesia
- Unilateral painful vesicular eruption with a dermatomal distribution

Cytomegalovirus - Human body fluids CONGENITAL CMV INFECTION

(CMV) - Transplacental - Most common intrauterine viral infection when the mother is infected
- Organ transplantation in first trimester
- Microcephaly, seizures, deafness, jaundice, and purpura
Epstein-Barr - contact with saliva - Infects mainly lymphoid cells, primarily B-lymphocytes INFECTIOUS
Virus (EBV) MONONUCLEOSIS
- ‘Kissing disease’
- splenomegaly
MALIGNANCIES
 MODULE 3F – VIRUS
- Burkitt’s lymphoma
- B-cell lymphomas
- Nasopharyngeal carcinoma
HEPADNAVIRIDAE
Hepatitis B Virus - Blood transfusion HEPATITIS B INFECTION
- Needlestick injury -- hepatocellular injury due to immune attack by cytotoxic T cells
- Sexual contact - Fever, anorexia, and jaundice
- Transplacental - Dark urine, pale feces, and elevate transaminase levels
- Can lead to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma
NAKED RNA VIRUSES
PICORNAVIRIDAE
Poliovirus Fecal-oral POLIOMYELITIS
- minor illness with fever, malaise, headache, nausea, and vomiting
which may progresses to severe muscle pain, stiffness of the neck and
back with or without flaccid paralysis
- replicates in motor neurons in anterior horn of spinal cord, causing
paralysis
Coxsackie virus - respiratory droplet Coxsackie A: Hand-foot-and-mouth disease
- Fecal-oral - common viral Illness that usually affects infants and children
- direct contact with younger than 5 years; vesicular rash on hands and feet and
respiratory ulcerations in the mouth
secretions
Coxsackie B: Myocarditis, pericarditis (Most commonly identified
causative agent of heart disease in humans)
Hepatitis A virus Fecal-oral HEPATITIS A INFECTION
- The virus replicates in the GI tract and then spreads to the liver
during a brief viremic period.
- Hepatocellular injury is caused by immune attack by cytotoxic T
cells.
HEPEVIRIDAE
Hepatitis E virus Fecal-oral HEPATITIS E INFECTION
- Causes outbreaks of hepatitis (epidemics) esp in developing
countries
- no chronic carrier state, no cirrhosis, and no hepatocellular
carcinoma
- Infection is frequently subclinical
CALICIVIRIDAE
Norovirus Fecal-oral VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS
- Most important cause of epidemic viral (nonbacterial)
gastroenteritis in adults
- Sudden onset of vomiting, diarrhea, accompanied by fever and
abdominal cramping
REOVIRIDAE: only RNA virus with a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) genome
Rotavirus Fecal-oral VIRAL GASTROENTERITIS
- Most common cause of childhood diarrhea
- Rotavirus is resistant to stomach acid and hence can reach the small
intestine causing villous destruction with atrophy resulting in dec
absorption of Na+ and loss of K+
 MODULE 3F – VIRUS

NAKED RNA VIRUSES

PICORNAVIRIDAE
INFLUENZA - acute, viral respiratory Infection with fever, chills,
headache, aches, and pains throughout the body, sore throat, cough,
and nasal drainage.

Influenza A
- worldwide epidemics (pandemics); ex Avian Flu
- each year, influenza is the MCC of respiratory infections
- Respiratory Droplet - most of the serotypes typically cause disease in other animal species
Influenza Virus - direct contact with
respiratory secretions Influenza B
- is only a human virus; there is no animal source of new RNA
segments
- Major outbreaks of influenza but does NOT lead to pandemic

Influenza C
- Mild respiratory tract infection; Does NOT cause outbreaks of
influenza
PICORNAVIRIDAE
FILOVIRIDAE: longest viruses
Ebola virus Natural Host: fruit EBOLA
bats Transmission: - targets endothelial cells, phagocytes, hepatocytes
direct contact with bodily - abrupt onset of flu-like symptoms, diarrhea/vomiting, high fever,
fluids, fomites (including myalgia
dead bodies), infected - can progress to DIC, diffuse hemorrhage, shock
bats or primates (apes/ - high mortality rate (100%)
monkeys)
CORONAVIRIDAE
Coronavirus Reservoir: Horseshoe COMMON COLDS
- with bat Immediate host: - Second to rhinovirus as the most common cause of common colds
prominent Civet cat
club-shaped Transmission: SEVERE ACUTE RESPIRATORY SYNDROME
spikes form a Respiratory Droplet - Incubation Period: 2-10 days (mean, 5 days)
“corona” - caused by SARS-COV-1
(halo) - Receptor for SARS-CoV on surface of cells is angiotensin-
converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2). Binding of the virus to ACE-2
on the surface of respiratory tract epithelium → dysregulation
of fluid balance → alveolaredema
- Severe atypical pneumonia rapidly progressing to ARDS
- CXR: interstitial “ground-glass” infiltrates

MIDDLE EAST RESPIRATORY SYNDROME

- MERS-CoV binds to CD-26; clinical findings of MERS are similar to
those of SARS
- viral respiratory Illness with high fever, chills, headache, a general
feeling of discomfort, body aches, and sometimes diarrhea.

COVID-19
- caused by SARS-COV-2
 MODULE 3F – VIRUS
FLAVIVIRIDAE
Dengue virus Bite of female Aedes DENGUE FEVER
Four aegypti - Influenza-like syndrome characterized by biphasic fever,
serotypes: mosquito, Aedes myalgia, arthralgia, rash, leukopenia and lymphadenopathy
DEN-1, 2, 3, 4 - characterized by capillary permeability, abnormalities of hemostasis
(Each serotype albopictus reservoir: man
provides
specific
lifetime immunity)
Hepatitis C Virus - Humans are the HEPATITIS C
reservoir for HCV. - immune attack by cytotoxic T cells
- blood-borne - Alcoholism greatly enhances the rate of hepatocellular carcinoma in
Setting: IV drug HCV-infected individuals.
users, - Hepatitis C resembles hepatitis B manifestations but milder.
Needle-stick injuries,
during birth
- sexual contact
TOGAVIRIDAE
Rubella virus - Respiratory droplets RUBELLA / GERMAN MEASLES
- Trans placentally - mild, febrile viral disease with fine, pinkish, flat rash begins 1 or 2
- direct contact with days after the onset of symptoms
nasopharyngeal - milder disease than hard measles with fewer complications except
secretions when acquired during the first trimester of pregnancy
- Cephalocaudal appearance of maculopapular rash
- Postauricular lymphadenopathy: most characteristic clinical
feature
- Enanthem: Forchheimer’s spots (petechiae on soft palate;
not pathognomonic)
- Natural infection leads to lifelong immunity.

CONGENITAL RUBELLA SYNDROME

RETROVIRIDAE
Human - Original source: - Preferentially infects and kills helper (CD4+) T
Immunodeficiency chimpanzees lymphocytes o Loss of cell-mediated immunity
Virus (HIV) - direct sexual contact o High probability of opportunistic infections
- Distinguished - Transplacental - also targets a subset of CD4+ cells called Th17 cells → loss of
from all other & breastfeeding Th17 cells
RNA viruses by - Perinatal → bloodstream infections by bacteria in the normal flora of the
the presence of - sharing of colon
an unusual contaminated needles - The two most characteristic manifestations of AIDS are Pneumocystis
enzyme, reverse and syringes by pneumonia and Kaposi’s sarcoma.
transcriptase intravenous drug abusers
which converts - transfusion
a single of contaminated blood
stranded RNA and blood products
viral genome • transplantation of HIV-
into a double- infected tissues or organs
stranded viral * This process allows the virus to cause a latent infection and to
DNA * avoid causing an immune response that may eliminate the virus.