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Introduction to viruses. Lecture topics - 1. What is a virus? Definition Structure and replication Human virus infections Treatment Antivirals Vaccines. Lecture topics – 2. Immunity to viruses Cell-mediated Humoral Role of Complement Vaccination against viruses
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Lecture topics - 1 • What is a virus? • Definition • Structure and replication • Human virus infections • Treatment • Antivirals • Vaccines
Lecture topics – 2 • Immunity to viruses • Cell-mediated • Humoral • Role of Complement • Vaccination against viruses • Inactivated vaccines • Live vaccines • Interferon
Definition of a Virus Sub microscopic entity consisting of a single nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat and capable of replication only within the living cells of bacteria, animals or plants.
Definition of a Virus Obligate Intracellular Parasite
Lipid Envelope Nucleic Acid Protein Capsid Virion Associated Polymerase Spike Projections Virion Structure
Virion Morphology • Simple Structure • Repetitive Structure • High Level of Redundancy
Helical Icosahedral Virus Morphology
1 Virus attachment and entry 1 2 Uncoating of virion 3 Migration of genome nucleic 5 acid to nucleus 4 Transcription 4 2 5 Genome replication 6 Translation of virus 3 mRNAs 7 Virion assembly 7 8 Release of new virus particles 6 8 Virus Replication
Adenovirus Herpes virus Cytopathic Effect (cpe)
Transmission of Viruses • Respiratory transmission • Influenza A virus • Faecal-oral transmission • Enterovirus • Blood-borne transmission • Hepatitis B virus • Sexual Transmission • HIV • Animal or insect vectors • Rabies virus
Virus Tissue Tropism • Targeting of the virus to specific tissue and cell types • Receptor Recognition • CD4+ cells infected by HIV • CD155 acts as the receptor for poliovirus
In vivo Disease Processes • Cell destruction • Virus-induced changes to gene expression • Immunopathogenic disease
Symptoms Amount of virus Time Virus Acute Virus Infection
Acute Virus Infections • Localised to specific site of body • Development of viraemia with widespread infection of tissues
Poliovirus Properties of the virus • Enterovirus. • Possesses a RNA genome. • Transmitted by the faecal oral route. • Cause of gastrointestinal illness and poliomyelitis.
Virus Infection Viraemia Gut Neuronal tissues Virus excretion in the faeces Paralysis Poliovirus Infection Non-neuronal tissues
A B 40 30 20 Number of cases (in thousands) 10 0 1950 1960 1970 1980 Incidence of Poliomyelitis Poliovirus vaccines A: Salk – killed inactivated vaccine. B: Sabin – live attenuated vaccine
Influenza A virus Properties of the virus • Myxovirus • Enveloped virus with a segmented RNA genome • Infects a wide range of animals other than humans • Undergoes extensive antigenic variation • Major cause of respiratory infections
Influenza A virus Infection • Spread by respiratory route • Virus infects cells of the respiratory tract • Destruction of respiratory epithelium • Secondary bacterial infections • Altered cytokine expression leading to fever • e.g interleukin-1 and interferon
600 500 400 300 200 100 0 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Weekly consultation rates for influenza and influenza-like illness: Weekly Returns Service of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 1988 to 1999 Epidemic activity Higher than expected seasonal activity Baseline activity Rate per 100 000 population Normal seasonal activity Year CDR Weekly Report: 5th November 1999
Human H2N2 Human H3N2 Genetic Reassortment Avian H3N8 Point mutation of HA and NA genes Generation of Novel Influenza A Viruses ANTIGENIC SHIFT ANTIGENIC DRIFT
Viruses and Human Tumours • Epstein Barr Virus • Burkitt’s Lymphoma • Human papillomavirus • Benign warts • Cervical Carcinoma • Human T-cell Leukaemia Virus (HTLV-1) • Leukaemia • Hepatitis C virus • Liver carcinoma
Virus Infection [ ] Uncontrolled cell growth and tumour formation Uninfected Cell ? Virus-induced tumours
Normal cells Transformed cells Virus-induced transformation
Virus-Induced Tumours • Virus infects cell. • Virus nucleic acid, as DNA, integrates into cellular genome. • Virus causes changes in cellular gene expression. • Uncontrolled cell multiplication and tumour formation.
Treatment and Prevention of Virus Infections • Antivirals • Vaccines and immunisation
Antiviral Targets • Attachment/Entry • Nucleic acid replication • Virus protein processing • Virus maturation
Problems with Antivirals • Identification of virus-specific target. • Generation of resistant variants.