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New Unit Microbiology - Viruses

Explore the structure, function, and classification of viruses in microbiology. Delve into the debate on whether viruses are living organisms, dissecting evidence and their relationship with host cells. Discover the intricacies of viral reproduction and the significance of virus-host specificity in future studies.

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New Unit Microbiology - Viruses

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  1. New Unit Microbiology - Viruses • Micro (small) biology (study of living organisms) • Viruses = Latin for poison • Closely linked with many organisms. • Source of disease and death including AIDS, influenza,Ebola,colds

  2. Objectives of today’s lesson • To describe the basic structure and function of a virus • To evaluate the evidence used to classify viruses as living or non-living

  3. The Structure of Viruses • Viruses are non-cellular (they are not composed of cells) • Viruses are composed of four major components: Capsid/Protein Coat Nucleic Acids Specific receptors Enzymes

  4. Viral Structure + function • Capsid/Protein Coat - coats or protects genetic material of virus • Nucleic Acids - either DNA or RNA which takes over and instructs a host cell on how to produce more virus. • Specific receptors or a tail - located on surface. Allows virus to attach to a specific host cell • Enzymes - Aid viral entry and/or takeover of host cell

  5. Diagrams of Viruses

  6. Viruses - Living or Non-living • Since viruses are non-cellular there is considerable debate about whether they are living or non -living

  7. Evidence that viruses are living • Viruses contain genetic material • Viruses consist of other organic materials such as proteins • Viruses often contain enzymes that aid in replication • Viruses replicate using a host cell

  8. Evidence that viruses are non-living • Viruses do not grow • Viruses are non-motile • Viruses do not respond to stimuli • Viruses are able to form crystals and survive outside of the host cell • Viruses are unable to replicate without a host cell • Viruses have no metabolic activity

  9. Review • Viruses are microscopic organisms that impact all other organisms • It can be successfully debated that they are both living and non-living • Viruses have an elegantly simple structure that aids in their survival • The function of viral components relates to their structure

  10. Future explorations • The specificity of virus/host relationships • Viral reproduction - the lytic and lysogenic cycles

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