General Properties of Viruses
smallest infectious agents
intracellular; need a host cell to pretty much do anything (ex. provide energy,
protein synthesis)
Virion → Virus (product after hijacking host cell &
repoducing)
is the extracellular state of a virus
main function:
deliver its genome into host cell → expressed → replicate within host cell
structure of viruses
2 components
nucleic acid: (single/double stranded RNA or DNA)
protein coat: “capsid” made up of capsomeres
nucleic acid + protein coat = nucleocapsid
viruses can be classified according to
1. viral structure (naked, eneveloped)
2. genome structure (DNA/RNA , single/double stranded ,
segmented/nosegmented)
3. capsid symmetry
4. infectious route
General Properties of Viruses 1
, 5. disease caused
6. biochemical properties
naked virus enveloped virus
“stongest survive bro” “Fragile outside the host cell”
protein coat only enevlope obtained by budding thru
host cell membrane
characterstics:
done thru viral attachment protein
resistant to environmental
conditions envelope can be dervied from
either plasma membrane or
(due to that obvi ↑) easily
internal cell membranes
transmitted
mechanism (extra jus to visiualize
tend to be more stable outside the
better)
host, making them more resistant to
environmental conditions. capsid pushes through the cell
membrane, taking some of the
membrane with it
↓
newly enveloped virus is then
released from the host cell to
infect other cells
characterstics:
cannot withstand conditions
naked viruses are resistant to
must remain wet & spread
found in bodily fluids and
tissues that provide a more
protective environment
lipid envelope makes them
susceptible to drying out, heat, and
other external factors. As a result,
General Properties of Viruses 2
smallest infectious agents
intracellular; need a host cell to pretty much do anything (ex. provide energy,
protein synthesis)
Virion → Virus (product after hijacking host cell &
repoducing)
is the extracellular state of a virus
main function:
deliver its genome into host cell → expressed → replicate within host cell
structure of viruses
2 components
nucleic acid: (single/double stranded RNA or DNA)
protein coat: “capsid” made up of capsomeres
nucleic acid + protein coat = nucleocapsid
viruses can be classified according to
1. viral structure (naked, eneveloped)
2. genome structure (DNA/RNA , single/double stranded ,
segmented/nosegmented)
3. capsid symmetry
4. infectious route
General Properties of Viruses 1
, 5. disease caused
6. biochemical properties
naked virus enveloped virus
“stongest survive bro” “Fragile outside the host cell”
protein coat only enevlope obtained by budding thru
host cell membrane
characterstics:
done thru viral attachment protein
resistant to environmental
conditions envelope can be dervied from
either plasma membrane or
(due to that obvi ↑) easily
internal cell membranes
transmitted
mechanism (extra jus to visiualize
tend to be more stable outside the
better)
host, making them more resistant to
environmental conditions. capsid pushes through the cell
membrane, taking some of the
membrane with it
↓
newly enveloped virus is then
released from the host cell to
infect other cells
characterstics:
cannot withstand conditions
naked viruses are resistant to
must remain wet & spread
found in bodily fluids and
tissues that provide a more
protective environment
lipid envelope makes them
susceptible to drying out, heat, and
other external factors. As a result,
General Properties of Viruses 2
