Transcript viruses

T4 bacteriophage infecting an E. coli cell
0.5 m
Science as a Process
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Research into tobacco mosaic disease led to
the conclusion that the pathogen was smaller
than a bacterial cell
The pathogen was named virus
Characteristics of viruses:
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Smaller than bacteria
Not cellular
Composed of nucleic acid and protein
Obligate intracellular parasites
Virus
Comparing
the size of a
virus,
a bacterium,
and an
animal cell
Bacterium
Animal
cell
Animal cell nucleus
0.25 m
Infection by tobacco mosaic virus
Figure 18.4 Viral structure
Capsomere
of capsid
RNA
Capsomere
Membranous
envelope
DNA
Head
Capsid Tail
sheath
RNA
DNA
Tail
fiber
Glycoprotein
18  250 mm
20 nm
(a) Tobacco mosaic virus
Glycoprotein
70–90 nm (diameter)
80–200 nm (diameter)
50 nm
50 nm
(b) Adenoviruses
(c) Influenza viruses
80  225 nm
50 nm
(d) Bacteriophage T4
Capsids and Envelopes
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Capsid =
Capsids and Envelopes
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Capsid = protein coat that surrounds
the viral genome
viral envelope =
Capsids and Envelopes
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Capsid = protein coat that surrounds
the viral genome
viral envelope = derived from host cell
or nuclear membranes, it helps the virus
invade
Viral Genome
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Double stranded DNA
Single Stranded DNA
Double stranded RNA
Single stranded RNA
A virus has only one of these types of
nucleic acids
Viral Replication
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What are the possible patterns of viral
replication?
DNA --> DNA
RNA --> RNA, where viral genes code for viral
RNA and proteins (class IV and V)
RNA --> DNA --> RNA; where viral gene uses
reverse transcriptase to create a “provirus” in
the nucleus that does not leave host cell…viral
RNA and protein is also made
(class VI)
Bacterial Viruses
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Which scientists used bacteriophages to
prove that DNA was the hereditary
material?
Hershey and Chase
What are the two mechanisms of phage
infection?
Lytic and Lysogenic cycles (of DNA
viruses)
Lytic Cycle
Virulent phage … example T4 phage
Steps:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Attachment
Entry of phage DNA and degradation of host
DNA
Synthesis of viral genome and protein
Assembly
Release … (host cell dies while releasing 100200 phages)
Lysogenic Cycle
Temperate phage … examplelambda phage
Steps:
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1.
2.
3.
4.
Entry
Integration of viral DNA into bacterial chromosome
creating a prophage
Bacterium reproduces normally copying prophage and
transmitting it to daughter cells
Under certain environmental conditions, a switchover to
lytic cycle is triggered
Other prophage genes may alter host’s phenotype
and have medical significance
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Ex. bacteria causing diphtheria is harmless unless infected
by a phage…phage experiences a lysogenic cycle and
prophage causes host cell to make a toxin that causes
illness!
Bacterial Defense
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What defense do bacteria have against
phage infection?
Restriction enzymes (a.k.a. 
restriction endonucleases)
What do restriction enzymes do?
They cut up DNA. The bacterial DNA is
modified to protect it from the
restriction endonucleases.
Animal Viruses
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What is the viral envelope?
An outer membrane (outside of the
capsid) that helps the virus to invade
the animal cell.
The invasion of the virus has the
following stages ...
1. Attachment
2. Entry
3. Uncoating
4. RNA and protein synthesis
5. Assembly and release
Herpes virus
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Consists of double stranded DNA
Envelope derived from host cell nuclear
envelope not from plasma membrane
It, therefore, reproduces within the nucleus
May integrate its DNA as a provirus (becoming
like mini-chromosomes in nucleus)
Tends to recur throughout lifetime of infected
individual. Often triggered by environmental
situations.
RNA Viruses
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Different classes of RNA viruses: single
stranded range from class IV to class VI
Class IV: invades as mRNA, is ready for
translation
Class V: RNA serves as template for
mRNA synthesis
Class VI: Retrovirus  RNA  DNA
(using enzyme reverse transcriptase)
RNA
The structure of HIV, the retrovirus that causes AIDS
Glycoprotein
Viral envelope
Capsid
Reverse
transcriptase
RNA
(two identical
strands)
The reproductive cycle of HIV, a retrovirus
HIV
Membrane of
white blood cell
1 The virus fuses with the
cell’s plasma membrane.
The capsid proteins are
removed, releasing the
viral proteins and RNA.
2 Reverse transcriptase
catalyzes the synthesis of a
DNA strand complementary
to the viral RNA.
HOST CELL
3 Reverse transcriptase
catalyzes the synthesis of
a second DNA strand
complementary to the first.
Reverse
transcriptase
Viral RNA
RNA-DNA
hybrid
4 The double-stranded
DNA is incorporated
as a provirus into the cell’s
DNA.
0.25 µm
HIV entering a cell
DNA
NUCLEUS
Chromosomal
DNA
Provirus
5 Proviral genes are
transcribed into RNA
molecules, which serve as
genomes for the next viral
generation and as mRNAs for
translation into viral proteins.
RNA genome
for the next
viral generation
mRNA
6 The viral proteins include capsid
proteins and reverse transcriptase
(made in the cytosol) and envelope
glycoproteins (made in the ER).
New HIV leaving a cell
9 New viruses bud
off from the host cell.
8 Capsids are
assembled around
viral genomes and
reverse transcriptase
molecules.
7 Vesicles transport the
glycoproteins from the ER to
the cell’s plasma membrane.
Reasons for success of HIV
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Has an envelope
Creates a provirus which stays in the
nucleus of the host cell
Is an RNA virus…high rate of mutation
Viral Disease
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Some viruses have toxic components
Some cause infected cells to release
enzymes from lysosomes
Recovery involves ability to repair
damaged region of the body.
Vaccines / Drugs
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What are vaccines and how do they work?
Introduce body to harmless or weakened
strain of the virus, so that your immune
system learns to recognize the virus prior to
invasion
Few drugs around to fight viruses, most
interfere with DNA, RNA or protein synthesis
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Often mimic nucleosides that would allow for
nucleic acid synthesis
Ex. AZT  HIV replication
acyclovor  herpes
Emerging Viruses
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HIV, Ebola, SARS, West Nile Virus,
Influenza, Hantavirus
From where do these viruses emerge?
From mutated versions of current viruses
Jump from current host to new host
Move from a previously isolated region of
the world
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome)
(a) Young ballet students in Hong Kong
wear face masks to protect themselves
from the virus causing SARS.
(b) The SARS-causing agent is a coronavirus
like this one (colorized TEM), so named for the
“corona” of glycoprotein spikes protruding from
the envelope.
Viroids and Prions
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Viroids are naked circular RNA that infect plants
Prions are proteins that infect cells (cause tangles of proteins in
brain)
Examples of prions seen in scrapies in sheep, mad-cow disease,
and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) in humans
 Timeline of Mad Cow Disease Outbreaks
How can a prion spread infection?
Altered versions of proteins that can alter other proteins (altered
protein is thought to be a result of a mutated gene)
Or can be ingested by eating contaminated meats…
Figure 18.13 Model for how
prions propagate
Prion
Original
prion
Many prions
Normal
protein
New
prion
Viral Evolution
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How did viruses evolve?
Because viruses depend on cells for
their own reproduction, they most likely
evolved after the first cells appeared.
Possible link to mobile genetic
elements. (transposons, plasmids)
Much debate about viral evolution…lots
to learn about viruses!