Viruses

What human diseases can you name that are caused by viruses?

Did you name:

The flu – INFLUENZA! Swine flu! HIV/AIDS? Smallpox? Chicken pox/shingles? Common Colds? Hepatitis? Measles? Warts?

Measles

Smallpox

Warts

Shingles/

Chicken Pox

Mono

What is a virus? A virus is a core of DNA or RNA

surrounded by a protein coat (capsid).

DNA CAPSID

Viruses come in different shapes

They infect animals, plants and bacteria

Bacteriophagee.g. tobacco mosaic virus in plants

e.g. influenza, HIV and small pox

How are viruses named? Named for the type of cells they infect

or the disease they cause. tobacco mosaic virus is found in tobacco; bacteriophages infect bacteria HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)

damages the human immune system

How does a virus infect?

1. Lytic – enters host cell & copies itself. Then causes the host cell to burst & spread the virus.

2. Lysogenic – virus puts its DNA into the host’s DNA (provirus) and it gets copied every time the host cell divides. The infection may show up years later, when infected cells enter the lytic cycle together e.g. HIV

Can only reproduce by infecting living things!

Viral Infection Cycles –

Retrovirus (backward virus) Retrovirus - contains RNA instead of

DNA must copy nucleic acid backward (RNA

to DNA) to function, using reverse transcriptase

All retroviruses must be lysogenic. Example: HIV

Is a virus alive? Made of cells? Can it reproduce without a host? Do they all have DNA? Do they maintain homeostasis?

They are NOT alive!

Flu Attack!

HIV Attacks immune system –

no cure yet Sep 2009 vaccine in

Thailand reported 30% decrease in infection

Bone marrow transplant?

Develops into AIDS

Killed more than 25 million since 1981

Came from SIV in late 19th century

Small pox Emerged in human

populations about 10,000 BC. Evidence of smallpox on the mummified body of Pharaoh Ramses V of Egypt

1967 killed 2 million people

USA smallpox free in 1971, world smallpox free in 1980

Ways we defend ourselves

Non-specific defenses—not a one-to-one defense; can be physical or chemical 1st line—skin! Prevents pathogens from

getting inside. Body secretions (sweat, tears, saliva, mucus, oil) also help chemically and physically

2nd line—inflammatory response—swelling, fever, non-specific white blood cells (macrophages)

Chemical Assistance

Outside the body: disinfectants and antiseptics—alcohol, iodine, bleach—for PREVENTION

Inside the body—antibiotics (only against living things!) such as penicillin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cipro, tetracycline, streptomycin, etc. –for TREATMENT