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VIROLOGY
CLS 413

Prof. Dalia M. Mohsen

Prof. in Microbiology and molecular Biology
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 Objective

 Comparison between viruses and bacteria

 Atypical virus like agents.

 Virus and cancer

 Discuss antiviral therapy

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Comparison between viruses and bacteria
No Property Viruses Bacteria
1 Size 20-300 nm 1000 nm

2 Genome DNA or RNA but DNA and RNA

(type of nucleic acid) not both

3 Cell wall Envelope present Cell wall

in some viruses

4 Ribosomes No ribosomes Ribosomes

5 Sensitivity to antibiotics _ +

6 Growth in culture media Grow only in +

living host cell
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Atypical virus like agents (Viroid)
1-DEFECTIVE VIRUSES:
 Are composed of viral nucleic acid and proteins but
cannot replicate without a helper virus, which provides
the missing function.
 These usually have a mutation or a deletion of part of
their genetic material.

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 Atypical virus like agents
2- PSEUDOVIRIONS :

Contain host cell DNA instead of viral DNA within the

capsid. They are formed during infection with certain
viruses when the host cell DNA is fragmented and pieces
are incorporated within the capsid. Pseudovirions can
infect cell, but they don’t replicate.

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 Atypical virus like agents
3-PRIONS:

1) Are infectious particles that are composed solely of

protein. Causes mammalian transmissible spongiform
encephalopathy.
2) They contain no detectable nucleic acid.

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 virus and cancer
Some DNA viruses that synthesize DNA during their
replication are capable to induce malignant transformation of
cells.
CHARACTERS OF TRANSFORMED CELLS:
 Increase rate of multiplication and metabolism.
 Cells show morphological and chromosomal
abnormalities.

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Viruses implicated in human cancer
Virus Tumor
DNA Viruses:
 Human papiloma viruses(HPV) Carcinoma of skin

 Epstein Barr virus (EBV) Nasopharyngeal carcinoma

 Hepatitis B virus (HBV) Hepatocellular carcinoma

RNA viruses:
• Human T-cell Lymphotropic Retrovirus Adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma
(HTLV-1 )
Liver cancer
• Hepatitis C virus (HCV)

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 Antiviral therapy

Since viruses are obligate intracellular parasites, it is

difficult to find an antiviral drug that selectively inhibits the
virus without affecting the cell (selective toxicity).Few
antiviral drugs are in clinical use. They act by stopping virus
attachment, penetration, uncoating or intracellular synthesis.

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The potential points of inhibitory action of
antiviral drugs include:
 Interference with virus adsorption or attachment to the
receptor- binding site on the cell.
 Inhibition of viral uncoating.

 Inhibition of viral nucleic acid, transcription and

replication.
 Prevention of virus budding or interference with virus
maturation

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Thank you

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