VIROLOGY-LEC 1

The Nature of Viruses

- The Virion consists of:
o NA genome
o Protein coat (capsid) Protective
o Some: Lipid Envelope

Why study Viruses?

- The study of viruses has led to the numerous
discoveries in molecular and cell biology
- Obligate intracellular parasites o DNA carriers inherited genetic
o Can only replicate within a living cell
information
- Lack many essential functions o Identification of promoters for
o Synthesis of basic biological building
eukaryotic RNA polymerase
blocks o Enzymes involved in cellular DNA
o Generation of ATP
replication
o Protein synthesis
o RNA splicing in eukaryotic cells
- Virus particles break down and release their
o Isolation of numerous cellular
genomes inside the cell (Uncoating)
Oncogenes and the understanding
- Genome can be:
o RNA or DNA (not both) that cancer is caused by their mutation
o Single or Double stranded or unregulated expression
o Circular or linear - The scientific study of viruses is very recent
- Viruses are important disease-causing agents
Disease Virus
Acquired immunodeficiency HIV-1
syndrome (AIDS)
Cervical carcinoma Human papillomavirus types
16,18, 31
Chickenpox Varicella virus
Cold sores Herpes simplex virus type I
Common cold Adenoviruses
Coronaviruses
Rhinoviruses
Diarrhea Norwalk virus
Rotavirus
Genital herpes Herpes simplex virus typw 2
Hemorrhagic fevers Dengue virus
Ebola and Marburg viruses
Lassa fever virus
Hepatitis Hep Avirus
Hep B virus
Brief History of Virology
Hep C virus
- Viruses were first distinguished from other
Influenza Influenza A and B virus
microorganism by filtration
Measles Measles virus - The crystallization of TMV challenged
Mononucleosis Epstein-Barr virus
conventional notions about genes and the
Cytomegalovirus
nature of living organisms
Mumps Mumps virus - The phage group stimulated studies of
Poliomyelitis Poliovirus types 1,2, and 3 bacteriophages and helped establish the field
Rabies encephalitis Rabies virus
of molecular biology
Severe acute respiratory SARS coronavirus o Mapped phage genes
syndrome (SARS) o Elucidated phage replication cycles
Smallpox Variola virus o Developed the plaque assay
Warts Human papillomavirus types - Bacteriophage (bacteria eaters) are viruses
1,2, 4 that infect bacteria
Yellow fever Yellow fever virus - Felix dHerelle began to work on phage
- Viruses can infect all forms of life therapy
- Viruses are the most abundant form of life on o Using phage to treat human bacterial
Earth disease
 o Useful against antibiotic resistant
bacteria
- Study of tumor virus led to discoveries in
molecular biology and understanding of the
nature of cancer
o Reverse transcriptase
o Oncogenes
- Viruses are now being used to construct
vectors to express proteins to destroy tumor
cells
- Most viruses were first detected and studied by
Steps in the Virus Replication Cycle
infection of intact organisms
- Most viruses were detected and studied by 1. Virions bind to receptors on the cell surface
2. The virion (or the viral genome) enters the cell
infection of intact organisms
3. Early viral genes are expressed: the Baltimore
- The plaque assay allows for the quantitation
classification of viruses
of viruses
4. Early viral proteins direct replication of viral
o Reported as PFU (Plaque forming unit)
genomes
- Eukaryotic cells cultured in vitro have been
5. Late mRNAs are made from newly replicated
adapted for plaque assays
genomes
- Hemagglutination is a convenient and rapid
6. Late viral proteins package viral genomes and
assay for many viruses
assemble virions
7. Progeny virions are released from the host cell
Baltimore classification of viruses

- Virus particles can be seen and counted by

electron microscopy
- The ratio of physical virus particles can be
much greater than one
o Disrupted or defective virions
o Empty capsids
o Cellular anti-viral defense
- Single-cycle virus replication
o Cells are infected with an MOI
(multiplicity of infection) of 10-100
o All cells are infected simultaneously
o Allows for synchronization of infection
- An example of virus replication cycle: mouse
polyomavirus
- Analysis of viral macromolecules reveals the
detailed pathways of virus replication
Fundamental Concepts
- A virus consists of NA genome, enclosed in a
protein coat, and sometimes a lipid envelope
- Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites
- Viral genomes can be either RNA or DNA
- Viral replication consists of
o Entry
o Uncoating
o Gene expression
o Genome replication
o Encapsidation
- Viruses can be studied by plaque assays,
hemagglutination and electron microscopy
- IAN panget
- The Baltimore classification system groups
viruses based on their pathway to mRNA
synthesis
 - Virions are studied by EM and X-ray diffraction
VIROLOGY LEC 2 - Many viruses come in simple, symmetrical
VIRUS STRUCTURE packages
Characteristics of capsids o Composed of many copies of identical
- Capsids package viral genomes and transmit subunits (genomic economy)
them to a new host cell o Can assemble spontaneously (self
o Capsid assembly)
Rigid, symmetrical container o Identical subunits give the capsid
composed of viral protein symmetry
o Nucleocapsid Shape = geometry of its
Capsid with enclosed genome outline
o Virion Symmetry = rotational and
Complete infectious virus translation operations that
particle possibly including an describe it
envelope - Some viral capsids have icosahedral symmetry
- Many virus capsids are surrounded by a lipid
bilayer called an envelope