Escolar Documentos
Profissional Documentos
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and Prions
Are Viruses Living or
Non-living?
Viruses are both and neither
They have some properties of
life but not others
For example, viruses can be
killed, even crystallized like table
salt
However, they can’t maintain a
constant internal state
(homeostasis).
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What are Viruses?
A virus is a non-
cellular particle made
up of genetic
material and protein
that can invade living
cells.
enclosed in an DNA
protective envelope
Some viruses may
have spikes to help
attach to the host cell
Most viruses infect
only SPECIFIC host
cells ENVELOPE SPIKES
capsomeres
Retroviridae
Lentivirus
Human Immunodeficiency Virus 1, HIV 2
SIMPLEX I and II
COMMON COLD
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Influenza Virus
host cell
Penetration Phage lysozyme opens cell wall,
tail sheath contracts to
force tail core and DNA into
cell
Biosynthesis Production of phage DNA
and proteins
Maturation Assembly of phage particles
Release Phage lysozyme breaks cell wall
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Bacterial Bacterial Capsid DNA
cell wall chromosome
Capsid
Sheath
Tail fiber
1 Attachment: Tail
Base plate
Phage
attaches to Pin
host cell. Cell wall
Plasma membrane
2 Penetration:
Phage pnetrates
host cell and
injects its DNA. Sheath contracted
Tail core
3 Merozoites
released into
bloodsteam from
liver may infect
new red blood cells
4 Maturation:
Viral components
are assembled into Capsid
virions.
5 Release:
Host cell lyses
and new virions Tail fibers
are released.
ACTIVE
INACTIVE STAGE
STAGE
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Virulent Viruses
HOST
CELL
LYSES &
DIES