CHAPTER 12

THE STRUCTURE AND INFECTION CYCLE OF

VIRUSES

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Microbiology: A Clinical Approach Garland Science

OVERVIEW

Viruses
Viruses:
are noncellular or Acellular
infectious agents
Virology:
study of viruses
Virologists:
scientists who study viruses

General features of
Viruses
Viruses are infectious agents with both living
and nonliving characteristics.
1. Living characteristics of viruses
a. They reproduce at a fantastic rate, but only
in living host cells.
b. They can mutate.

General features of
Viruses
2. Nonliving characteristics of viruses
They are acellular, that is, they contain no

cytoplasm or cellular organelles.

They carry out no metabolism on their own
and must replicate using the host cell's
metabolic machinery.

General features of
Viruses

Virus particles contains either DNA

or RNA (not both)

Nucleic Acid is surrounded or
coated by a protein shell (capsid)
Some viruses possess a
membrane-like envelope
surrounding the particle

General Properties of
viruses
Consists of 1 molecule of DNA or RNA

enclosed in coat of protein

May have additional layers
Cannot reproduce independent of living
cells nor carry out cell division as
procaryotes and eucaryotes do
An intact viral particle is called a virion.

The Size and Morphology

of Selected Viruses

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Generalized Structure of
Viruses
Viral components
Nucleic acids
Capsid
Envelope

Generalized Structure of
Viruses

The Structure of Viruses

Virion size range is ~10-400 nm
All virions contain a nucleocapsid which is

composed of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and a

protein coat (capsid)
Some viruses consist only of a nucleocapsid,
others have additional components
Envelopes
virions having envelopes = enveloped
viruses
virions lacking envelopes = naked viruses

VIRAL ENVELOPES
Many viruses that infect humans and

other animals are enveloped.

Envelopes form when viral glycoproteins
and oligosaccharides associate with the
plasma membrane of the host cell.
All envelopes have a phospholipid
bilayer.

VIRAL ENVELOPES
Envelopes vary in:
Size
Morphology
Complexity
Composition

ENVELOPE GLYCOPROTEINS
They are firmly embedded in the envelope

bilayer.
This is facilitated by domains of host
membrane proteins called spanners.
They can form spikes or other structures on the
outside of the virion.
These can be used to attach to a host cell.

Capsids
Capsids are large macromolecular structures

which serve as protein coat of virus

Protect viral genetic material and aid in its
transfer between host cells
Made of protein subunits called protomers

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15

GENOMIC PACKAGING
Genome packaging has an important role in the

infection.
Viral genomes are packaged in one of three
ways:
Directly in the capsid-inner side of the
protein coat
Enclosed in special proteins-nucleic acid
binding protein
Enclosed in proteins from the host cell

VIRUS CLASSIFICATION

Helical Capsids-Tobacco
Mosaic Virus

TMV are shaped like hollow tubes with

protein walls

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18

Influenza Virus an
Enveloped Virus with a
Helical Nucleocapsid

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19

HELICAL VIRUSES

ICOSAHEDRAL VIRUSES
Their shape is derived from 20 triangular faces

that make up the capsid.

The capsid has 12 points of symmetry.

Icosahedral capsids

THE INFECTION CYCLE

The infection cycle was first worked out in

bacteriophages (bacterial viruses).

Animal virus infections can be either lytic or
lysogenic.

LYTIC VERSUS LYSOGENIC

In a lytic infection, the host cells fills with
INFECTION

virions and bursts.

The result is cell death.
Lysogenic infections are also known as latent
infections.
The viral genome becomes incorporated
into the host cells DNA.
It can remain this way for an extended
period.
The host cell lives.

LYTIC VERSUS LYSOGENIC

INFECTION

LYTIC INFECTION
For animal viruses, there are six steps in lytic

infection:
Attachment
Penetration
Uncoating
Biosynthesis
Maturation
Release

Attachment
Receptor sites:

Specific surface structures on host to which

viruses attach
Specific for each virus
Can be proteins, lipopolysaccharides,
techoic acids, etc.

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27

TYPES OF RECEPTOR
BINDING
Non-enveloped viruses
Binding takes place between viral capsid and

receptor.
Enveloped viruses
Binding takes place between viral envelope
proteins and receptor.

Entry into the Host

Most bacterial viruses (bacteriophages) inject

their nucleic acid into host

Eucaryotic viruses usually enter the cytoplasm
with the genome still enclosed.

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29

Bacteriophages

30

Viruslike Agents
Prions

31

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32

Assignment
Homework: Important group of RNA

viruses

Viral Diseases (Next

chapter)
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.

Influenza
Diseases Caused by the Herpes Family
Viral Hepatitis
Human Immunodeficiency Virus
Miscellaneous Viral Diseases

Bibliography
Microbiology, A clinical Approach -Danielle

Moszyk-Strelkauskas-Garland Science 2010.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_met
hod
https://files.kennesaw.edu/faculty/jhendrix/
bio 2261/home.html
http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/