Viruses Prof. Khaled H. Abu-Elteen Hashemite University Viruses • smallest infections agents • intracellular parasites-can reproduce only in host cells. • can not carry on independent metabolism • first virus discovered was tobacco mosaic virus [TMV] in 1892. • in 1931 virus cultured in the lab using tissue culture. • viruses are not cellular • consist only of a nucleic acid either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat. Virus facts • generally more resistant to some disinfectants than most bacteria. • most are susceptible to heat, except hepatitis virus • not affected by antibiotics VIRUS STRUCTURE • Basic rules of virus architecture, structure, and assembly are the same for all families, some structures are much more complex than others. • The capsid (coat) protein is the basic unit of structure; functions that may be fulfilled by the capsid protein are to: – – – – – – Protect viral nucleic acid Interact specifically with the viral nucleic acid for packaging Interact with vector for specific transmission Interact with host receptors for entry to cell Allow for release of nucleic acid upon entry into new cell Assist in processes of viral and/or host gene regulation Nucleoprotein has two basic structure types: • HELICAL: Rod shaped, varying widths and specific architectures; no theoretical limit to the amount of nucleic acid that can be packaged • CUBIC (Icosahedral): Spherical, amount of nucleic acid that can be packaged is limited by the of the particle • Virus structure is studied by: – Transmission electron microscopy (EM) – Cryo EM – one of the most powerful methods currently available – X-Ray diffraction Principles of basic virus structure • Nucleoprotein must be stable but dissociatable • Capsid is held together by non-covalent, reversible bonds: hydrophobic, salt, hydrogen bonds • Capsid is a polymer of identical subunits • Terms: – – – – Capsid = protein coat Structural unit = protein subunit Nucleocapsid = nucleic acid + protein Virion = virus particle • Capsid proteins are compactly folded proteins which: – – – – Fold only one way, and robustly Vary in size, generally 50-350 aa residues Have identifiable domains Can be described topologically; similar topological features do not imply evolutionary relationships Basic virus structure DNA or + Capsid protein Nucleocapsid = Naked capsid virus RNA Nucleocapsid + Lipid membrane, glycoproteins Enveloped virus Capsid symmetry Icosahedral Helical Naked capsid Enveloped Matrix Lipid Glycoprotein Icosahedral naked capsid viruses Adenovirus Electron micrograph Foot and mouth disease virus Crystallographic model Helical naked capsid viruses RNA Tobacco mosaic virus Electron micrograph Protein Tobacco mosaic virus Model Icosahedral enveloped viruses Herpes simplex virus Electron micrograph Herpes simplex virus Nucleocapsid cryoEM model Helical enveloped viruses Influneza A virus Electron micrograph Paramyxovirus Electron micrograph Properties of enveloped viruses • Envelope is sensitive to – – – – Drying Heat Detergents Acid • Consequences – – – – – Must stay wet during transmission Transmission in large droplets and secretions Cannot survive in the gastrointestinal tract Do not need to kill cells in order to spread May require both a humoral and a cellular immune response Properties of naked capsid viruses • Capsid is resistant to – – – – – Drying Heat Detergents Acids Proteases • Consequences – – – – – – Can survive in the gastrointestinal tract Retain infectivity on drying Survive well on environmental surfaces Spread easily via fomites Must kill host cells for release of mature virus particles Humoral antibody response may be sufficient to neutralize infection Atomic Resolution Microscope at UC Berkeley The Atomic Resolution Microscope is specifically designed for performance in the high resolution imaging mode with a point-to-point resolution of 1.5Å. Typical modern transmission EM: This JEOL Transmission Electron Microscope, similar to the one we use at Rutgers, is housed at Colorado State University Classification of viruses • • • • on the basis of: nucleic acid they contain ( DNA or RNA ) the size, shape and structure of the virus the tissue the infect DNA viruses • i) Poxivirus group (DNA) virus – pathogenic to skin small pox, cow pox • ii) Herpes virus group (DNA) • Latent infection may occur and lasts the life span of the host. • Cold sores • Shingles • Chicken pox • iii) Adenovirus group (DNA) • Catarrhs • Conjunctivitis • iv) Papovirus group (DNA) • Wart virus Adeno viruses Adenovirus-Associated Human Disease Pharyngitis Acute Respiratory Disease Pneumonia Pharyngoconjunctival Fever Epidemic Keratoconjuntivitis Genitourinary Infections (cervicitis, urethritis ) Gasteroenteritis Some asymptomatic and persistent infection Adenovirus oncogenically tranforms rodent cells but not human cells. AIDS Virus HIV HIV Herpes Simplex Virus I Human T- cell Lymphotropic Virus (HTLV) Human T- cell Lymphotropic Virus • HTLV-1 stands for Human T-cell Lymphotropic Virus. • It is a retrovirus, in the same class of virus as the AIDS virus, HIV-1. • HTLV-I is associated with a rare form of blood dsycrasia known as Adult T-cell Leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) and a myelopathy, tropical spastic paresis. • However, even with infection, fewer than 4% of seropositive persons will experience overt associated disease. Herpes Simplex Type II Virus Herpes Simplex Type II Virus Herpes Simplex Type II Virus Herpes Simplex Type I Virus Hepatitis • • • • Hepatitis a. chemically induced b. viral infection A, B, C, D, E, F Viral hepatitis is the most common liver disease found worldwide. • Epstein Barr virus • Herpes virus • Cytomegalovirus Hepatitis B (HBV) • DNA virus • has an outer surface structure known as hepatitis B surface antigen (HBs Ag) & an inner core component known as hepatitis B core Antigen (HBc Ag) • Long incubation period—up to 6 months. • Transmitted through blood contact. • Some modes of transmission as those for HIV. • HBV is very serious illness. • Series of 3 immunizations are given on day 0, 30, 180. Hepatitis C • Blood borne pathogen. • Also found in water like HV-A • Many become carriers Hepatitis D • Super-infects some patients who are already infected with HBV. • HBV is required as a helper to initiate infection. • blood borne. Hepatitis A Virus Hepatitis B: Causes Hepatitis B Hepatitis C: Getting Tattoos Infectious mononucleosis Picorna Virus Picorna Virus Primary site of infection is lymphoid tissue associated with the oropharynx and gut (GALT). Polio Virus Poliomyelitis Human Papilloma Virus Genital Warts - HPV • Causes genital warts Measles Mumps German Measles (Rubella) Chicken pox Chicken Pox Active lesions Small pox AIDS Candida albicans Kaposi’s Sarcoma HIV • Incubation period (the period between becoming infected and the actual development of the symptoms) • 6 months-5 or more years, up to 10 years. • Sometimes a mild illness--flu like symptoms appears 7-14 days after infection • Sometimes no symptoms appear for years. • It is accepted that once infected with HIV, AIDS will develop at some time in the future in all cases. • At present there is no cure. • Opportunistic infections associated with AIDS can be treated. HIV • • • • HIV is carried in blood, semen, & body fluids. usually fatal known to be dormant for years certain drug combinations slow the rate of invasion of the White Blood cells by the virus. • cure is not yet on the horizon • leading cause of death in young adults, aged 25-44 AIDS • Retrovirus- an RNA virus that carries an enzyme capable of forming DNA from RNA. • Aids virus infects T. Lymphocytes (Helper Tcells) • patient may be asymptomatic before diagnosis • affects the immune system • patients are prone to develop opportunistic infections, malignancies, and neurological disorders • fatal disease • no treatment AIDS • More common in I.V. drug users & homosexuals. • Pneumocytic carinii infection and blood vessel malignancy-Kaposi’s Sarcoma Atomic Resolution Microscope at UC Berkeley The Atomic Resolution Microscope is specifically designed for performance in the high resolution imaging mode with a point-to-point resolution of 1.5Å. Typical modern transmission EM: This JEOL Transmission Electron Microscope, similar to the one we use at Rutgers, is housed at Colorado State University