PENGENALAN VIRUS

Hishamuddin Bin Ahmad

1.Menerangkan ciri-ciri asas
virus

2.Menerangkan morfologi virus

3.Menerangkan proses
reproduksi virus
 Basic Characteristics

• Small microscopic parasites.

• Viruses are not cells but rather RNA or DNA

molecules surrounded by a protein coating. 

• Since viruses cannot reproduce without a host

cell, they are not strictly speaking as living
organisms.
 Morphology

• Are non-cellular.

• Size 20 - 200 nm.

• Always have at least two parts:

- an inner core of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA).
- an outer capsid composed of protein subunits.

• May be surrounded by membranous envelope.

 Morphology

• Does not have cell organelles.

• May also contain various

proteins, e.g enzymes such as
polymerases and reverse
transcriptase.

• Complete virus known as

virion.
Mature HIV (110 - 128 nm)

E. coli (3 μm)

Note:

• 1 nm = 0.000000001 m (10-9)
• 1 μm = 0.000001 m (10-6)

• 1 atom = 0.2 to 0.3 nm in diameter

• DNA = 2nm in diameter
Red Blood Cell (7.5 μm)
 Reproduction Process

1. Attachment
2. Uncoating Virus
3. Replication & Synthesize 
4. Assembly
5. Release
 Reproduction Process
1. Attachment

•Attachment is a specific binding between viral surface

proteins and their receptors on the host cellular surface. 

•This specificity determines the host range of a virus. 

(From Dr. Gary Kaiser)

 Reproduction Process
2. Uncoating Virus

•Uncoating is a process that viral capsid is degraded by

viral enzymes or host enzymes.
 Reproduction Process
3. Replication & Synthesize

•The virus' nucleic acid uses the host cell’s machinery to

make large amounts of viral components.
 Reproduction Process
4. Assembly

•Involves assembly of viral proteins and genetic materials

produced in the host cell.
 Reproduction Process
5. Release

•New viruses may escape from the host cell by causing cell
rupture (lysis).
Viral Reproduction Process
 Conclusion
• So small - can not be viewed without the help of
an electron microscope.

• Various morphology (shapes and sizes).

• Viruses are not cells but rather RNA or DNA

molecules surrounded by a protein coating.

• Processes involved in reproduction → A-U-R-A-R

Conclusion of Virus Reproduction
Morphological comparisons between viruses in E. coli. From left: Pox-, Phage. T4, Adeno-, Paramyxo-,
Tobacco Mosaic-, Picorna-, Reo-, Herpes- and Togavirus.
virion

Entire virus particle, consisting of an outer protein shell (called a capsid) and
an inner core of nucleic acid (either RNA or DNA). The core gives the virus
infectivity, and the capsid provides specificity (i.e., determines which
organisms the virus can infect). In virions whose capsids are further encased
by a fatty membrane, the virion can be inactivated by exposure to a solvent
such as ether or chloroform. Many virions have capsids with 20 triangular
faces and the nucleic acid densely coiled within; others have capsids
consisting of surface spikes, with the nucleic acid loosely coiled within.
Virions of most plant viruses are rod-shaped.