CHAPTER 12

THE STRUCTURE AND INFECTION CYCLE OF VIRUSES

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Microbiology: A Clinical Approach Garland Science

OVERVIEW

Viruses
Viruses: are noncellular or Acellular infectious agents Virology: study of viruses Virologists: scientists who study viruses

General features of Viruses

Viruses are infectious agents with both living

and nonliving characteristics. 1. Living characteristics of viruses a. They reproduce at a fantastic rate, but only in living host cells. b. They can mutate.

General features of Viruses

2. Nonliving characteristics of viruses
They are acellular, that is, they contain no

cytoplasm or cellular organelles. They carry out no metabolism on their own and must replicate using the host cell's metabolic machinery.

General features of Viruses

Virus particles contains either DNA or

RNA (not both) Nucleic Acid is surrounded or coated by a protein shell (capsid) Some viruses possess a membrane-like envelope surrounding the particle

General Properties of viruses

Consists of 1 molecule of DNA or RNA

enclosed in coat of protein May have additional layers Cannot reproduce independent of living cells nor carry out cell division as procaryotes and eucaryotes do An intact viral particle is called a virion.

The Size and Morphology of Selected Viruses

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Generalized Structure of Viruses

Viral components
Nucleic acids

Capsid
Envelope

Generalized Structure of Viruses

The Structure of Viruses

Virion size range is ~10-400 nm All virions contain a nucleocapsid which is

composed of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and a protein coat (capsid) Some viruses consist only of a nucleocapsid, others have additional components Envelopes virions having envelopes = enveloped viruses virions lacking envelopes = naked viruses

VIRAL ENVELOPES
Many viruses that infect humans and

other animals are enveloped. Envelopes form when viral glycoproteins and oligosaccharides associate with the plasma membrane of the host cell. All envelopes have a phospholipid bilayer.

VIRAL ENVELOPES
Envelopes vary in: Size Morphology Complexity Composition

ENVELOPE GLYCOPROTEINS
They are firmly embedded in the envelope

bilayer. This is facilitated by domains of host membrane proteins called spanners. They can form spikes or other structures on the outside of the virion. These can be used to attach to a host cell.

Capsids
Capsids are large macromolecular structures

which serve as protein coat of virus Protect viral genetic material and aid in its transfer between host cells Made of protein subunits called protomers

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GENOMIC PACKAGING
Genome packaging has an important role in the

infection. Viral genomes are packaged in one of three ways: Directly in the capsid-inner side of the protein coat Enclosed in special proteins-nucleic acid binding protein Enclosed in proteins from the host cell

VIRUS CLASSIFICATION

Helical Capsids-Tobacco Mosaic Virus

TMV are shaped like hollow tubes with protein

walls

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Influenza Virus an Enveloped Virus with a Helical Nucleocapsid

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HELICAL VIRUSES

ICOSAHEDRAL VIRUSES
Their shape is derived from 20 triangular faces

that make up the capsid. The capsid has 12 points of symmetry.

Icosahedral capsids

THE INFECTION CYCLE

The infection cycle was first worked out in

bacteriophages (bacterial viruses). Animal virus infections can be either lytic or lysogenic.

LYTIC VERSUS LYSOGENIC INFECTION

In a lytic infection, the host cells fills with

virions and bursts. The result is cell death. Lysogenic infections are also known as latent infections. The viral genome becomes incorporated into the host cells DNA. It can remain this way for an extended period. The host cell lives.

LYTIC VERSUS LYSOGENIC INFECTION

LYTIC INFECTION
For animal viruses, there are six steps in lytic

infection: Attachment Penetration Uncoating Biosynthesis Maturation Release

Attachment
Receptor sites:

Specific surface structures on host to which

viruses attach Specific for each virus Can be proteins, lipopolysaccharides, techoic acids, etc.

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TYPES OF RECEPTOR BINDING

Non-enveloped viruses
Binding takes place between viral capsid and

receptor. Enveloped viruses Binding takes place between viral envelope proteins and receptor.

Entry into the Host

Most bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) inject

their nucleic acid into host Eucaryotic viruses usually enter the cytoplasm with the genome still enclosed.

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Bacteriophages

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Viruslike Agents
Prions

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Fusion with Host Membrane

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Assignment
Homework: Important group of RNA viruses

Viral Diseases (Next chapter)

A. B. C. D. E. Influenza Diseases Caused by the Herpes Family Viral Hepatitis Human Immunodeficiency Virus Miscellaneous Viral Diseases

Bibliography
Microbiology, A clinical Approach -Danielle Moszyk-Strelkauskas-Garland Science 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_metho d
https://files.kennesaw.edu/faculty/jhendrix/bio 2261/home.html http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/