Viral Replication

i) adsorption (attachment)
ii) entry
iii) uncoating
iv) transcription
v) synthesis of virus components
vi) assembly
vii) release
 Viral Replication

i) Adsorption (attachment):

• interaction between specific proteins on viral

surface and specific receptors on target cell
membrane (tropism)
• not all cells carrying a receptor for a particular
virus can be productively infected by that virus
 Viral Replication
i) Adsorption (attachment):
– some viruses may use more than one host
cell receptor (e.g. HIV)
– able to infect a limited spectrum of cell
types (host range)
– most neutralizing antibodies are specific for
virion attachment proteins
 Viral Replication
ii) Entry (penetration):
• 2 mechanisms :
- endocytosis
fusion of virus envelope with cell membrane -
iii) Uncoating:
• release of viral genome
• cell enzymes (lysosomes) strip off the virus protein
coat
• virion can no longer be detected; known as the
“eclipse period”
 Viral Replication
iv) Transcription/Translation/Synthesis:
a) DNA viruses:
• replicate their DNA in host cell nucleus mediated by
viral enzymes
• synthesize capsid and other proteins in cytoplasm
using host cell enzymes
• new viral proteins move to nucleus where they
combine with new DNA to form new viruses
• Exception - Poxviruses synthesize their parts in host
cell’s cytoplasm
 Viral Replication
iv) Transcription/Translation/Synthesis:
b) RNA viruses:
– “+” sense RNA acts as mRNA - viral
proteins are made immediately in
cytoplasm mediated by viral enzymes
– “-” sense RNA (e.g. influenza) - lst makes
a “+” sense RNA copy via viral enzyme
 Viral Replication
iv) Transcription/Translation/Synthesis:
• Retroviridae (e.g. HIV)
• Contain enzyme “Reverse transcriptase”
• “+” sense Viral RNA  cDNA 
integrated into host cell chromosone
• mRNA (for viral proteins) and progeny virion RNA
are synthesized from integrated viral DNA by host
cell enzymes (RNA polymerases)
 Viral Replication
vi) Assembly:
• may take place in cell nucleus, cytoplasm or
(with most enveloped viruses) at the plasma
membrane
vii) Release:
• sudden rupture of cell
• gradual extrusion (budding) of enveloped
viruses through the cell membrane
• may occur together with assembly
Enveloped Virus Entry via Fusion
Non-enveloped Virus Entry via Endocytosis