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2.1 Viruses

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27 views19 pages

2.1 Viruses

Uploaded by

suvernan.suresh
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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2.

1
Viruses
SBI 3U1
The Discovery of
Viruses
Discovered in 1892
Russian biologist, Dmitri Iwanowski
Noticed Tobacco Mosaic Disease would spread if
infected leaves rubbed on uninfected leaves
Assumed it was bacterial
Designed a technique to
“filter” out the bacteria…BUT
Leaves still got infected!
Therefore, it couldn’t be
bacteria, but something else,
much smaller that couldn’t be
filtered out
The term ‘virus’ was
used to describe the
organisms that were
isolated
Are Viruses a Living
Organism?
They seem to be living because:
1. They have genetic material and protein.
2. They can adapt to different environments
3. Their genes can mutate and evolve.
Viruses are not living, however, because:
1. they have no cellular organelles
2. they cannot produce their own energy or proteins
3. they must rely on their host cell for all cellular functions.
4. they cannot grow.
5. they also do not respire.
Structure & Function
Viruses are very small.
They contain genetic material
(DNA or RNA) surrounded by a
protein coat called a capsid.
The capsid gives the virus its
shape, which is usually
geometric.
Viruses cannot live independently; they need
to live inside living cells.
Viruses can only infect a specific type of
organism.
For Example:
Bacteriophages are a category of viruses
known as “bacteria eaters”; they have a
distinct head shape and tail region.
Basic Virus Types
Virus DNA Virus RNA Virus Retrovirus
Genetic Double stranded Single Single
Information DNA stranded RNA stranded RNA;
used to copy
host DNA
Examples Chicken pox; Polio; mumps; HIV; feline
smallpox; measles; flu; leukemia virus
papillomavirus; hepatitis A and
herpes simplex; C; SARS;
hepatitis B Ebola; yellow
fever; rabies
Replication
Viruses DO NOT reproduce – b/c they
are not living!
There are 2 ways for viruses to
replicate:
1. Lytic Cycle
2. Lysogenic Cycle
Lytic Cycle
1) Attachment: phage (virus) chemically
recognizes a host cell and attaches to the
cell membrane.

2) Penetration/Injection: viral nucleic acid


(DNA/RNA) is injected into the host cell.
3) Synthesis: viral nucleic acid takes over by
inserting itself into host cell’s DNA. Normal cell
functioning stops. Host cell functioning is
essentially ‘hijacked’; it is now directed to
make copies of viral nucleic acid and proteins
instead of its own.
4) Assembly: viral nucleic acid
and protein coat are
assembled into new viruses.

5) Lysis/Release: host cell is


now programmed to make
enzymes that digest itself
from the inside out. Cell
lyses, or bursts open,
releasing hundreds of
new viruses that can now
infect other cells.
Lysogenic Cycle
1) Attachment
2) Penetration/Injection
3) Latent/Dormant Phase: When host cell copies
its DNA, it copies viral DNA too
4) Stimuli: stressors like temperature change,
chemicals, shock, etc. trigger Lytic Cycle
5) Synthesis
6) Assembly
7) Lysis/Release
For example:
If you’ve ever had a cold sore, you may
notice it can remain dormant for long
periods of time, but flare up when you are
stressed
Some people can have HIV but experience
no symptoms for years
Amoeba Sisters -
Viruses

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