INTRODUCTION TO VIRAL

INFECTION
• Viruses are smallest(unicellular)obligate
intracellular infective agent.

• Have no metabolic activity outside host cell, and

multiply by complex process not by binary
fission.

• They are differ from bacteria and prokaryotes in

many ways…
 DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIRUSES AND BACTERIS

PROPERTIES BACTERIA VIRUSES

Cell wall + -
Ribosome and + -
cellular enzymes

DNA & RNA both present Only one present

Binary fission + -
Sensitivity to + -
antibiotics
Morphology of viruses:-

• Viruses comprises of -
i. Nucleic acid(DNA&RNA),
ii. Protein coat (Capsid) ,
iii. Envelope
 NUCLEIC ACID
• Viruses have only one type of nucleic acid either
DNA or RNA, never both. And classified as:-
i. DNA virus ii.RNA virus

• DNA virus has dsDNA except PARVO VIRUSESS(ssDNA)

• RNA virus has ssRNA except ROTA VIRUS(dsRNA)

• Nucleic acid of most viruses are unsegmented except

influenza virus and Rota virus.
 CAPSID
• It is composed of number of repeated protein
subunits called as CAPSOMERE.

Functions of capsid:-
i.Protects the nucleic acid core.

ii.In non enveloped virus, role in viral replication by

attaching to specific receptor of host cell.

iii.It is antigenic and specific for each virus.

 SYMMETRY
• On the basis of capsomere arrangement, there are 3
types of symmetery:-

i.ICOSAHEDRAL- all dna virus and most RNA

execpt POXVIRUS

ii. HELICAL- myxovirus, Rhabdoviruses

iii.COMPLEX- Pox virus

 ENVELOPE
• Envelope surrounds Nucleocapsid, and lipoprotein
in nature.

• Lipid part is from host cell and protein part is

bacterial coded ,subunit called Peplomere.

• Peplomere are antigenic and bind to specific

receptor on host cell.
• Eg most viruses are enveloped except
Parvovirus,adenovirus ,hepatitis A virus…
 Size of virus:-
• They are extrely small vary from 20-400 nm in size.
• Smallest virus is Pavo virus (20nm)
• Largest virus is Pox virus (400nm)

Shape of virus:-
• Most are spherical in shape except

 Rabies virus- Bullet shape

 Ebola virus- Filamentous
 Pox virus – Brick shape
 Rota virus- Wheel shape