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Viruses and Bacteria. Not So Harmless In The News. Viruses. Infectious agents No cell structure Contain DNA or RNA Non-living Obligate parasites. Properties of Viruses. Can infect all forms of life Many infect only one species. Virus Size. Extremely small Comparison
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Viruses • Infectious agents • No cell structure • Contain DNA or RNA • Non-living • Obligate parasites
Properties of Viruses • Can infect all forms of life • Many infect only one species
Virus Size • Extremely small • Comparison • Human red blood cell = 10,000 nm • Plasma membrane width 30 nm
Virus Structure • Nucleic acid core • DNA (double or single stranded) • RNA
Virus Structure • Capsid = protein covering • Some have envelope over capsid
Replication of Viruses • Cannot multiply outside cells • Uses cell organelles to multiply • Process is called lytic cycle • Lysogenic cycle • Long term relationship of cell & virus • Viral nucleic acid replicates as cell multiplies
Ways Viruses Cause Disease • Can initiate cancer • Can take over cell function
Cancer & Viruses • Some viruses initiate cancer • Virus causes cell changes • Virus does not “carry” cancer
Viruses as Pathogens • Disrupt cell functions • Use cells to make more virus
Acute infection Rapid onset Run a course Subside Examples Common cold Influenza Measles Mumps Latent Infection Infective agent present Not manifesting disease Causes latent infections Examples Herpes HIV Viral Infections
Genital Herpes • Common STD • More than 1 in 5 age 12 & over in U.S. • Caused by herpes simplex virus • Develops a few days after sexual contact • Spreads when virus is active • Lesions develop • Latent infections
Prions & Viroids • Infectious agents • Simpler than viruses
Prions • Proteins that cause disease • Only infectious agent with no nucleic acid • Examples: • Bovine spongiform encephalopathy • mad cow disease • Creutzfeldt-Jacob disease
Healthy Brain Tissue Prion-infected Brain Tissue
Viroids • Small strands of RNA • No protein coats • Replicated in host cells • Known to cause plant diseases
Bacteria • Prokaryotic cells • Some harmful, some helpful • Present virtually everywhere
Characters of Bacteria • No membrane-bound nucleus • No membrane-bound organelles
Modes of Nutrition in Bacteria • Photoautotrophic • Chemoautotrophic • Hetrotrophic
Photoautotrophs • Produce food via photosynthesis • Green & purple bacteria, cyanobacteria • Cyanobacteria probably oxygenated Earth’s atmosphere
Chemautotrophs • Energy from inorganic molecules • Manufacture growth factors • Carbohydrates • Fats • Proteins • Nucleic acids • Important in nitrogen cycling
Heterotrophs • Feed on other organisms • Play key role in carbon cycling • Many bacteria are decomposers • Release CO2 used by photosynthesizers
Archaea • Prokaryotic cells • Not bacteria • None cause disease • Often in harsh habitats
Reproduction in Bacteria • Asexual binary fission
Bacterial Disease • Attach to cells • Cause tissue damage • Some plant diseases • Many human diseases
Syphilis • Caused by spiral bacterium • Sexually transmitted • Curable with penicillin • Can cause death if untreated
Stages of Syphilis • Primary • Hard chancre sore • Becomes painful • Secondary • 6 weeks – months • Dispersed thru body • Lesions at other sites
Stages of Syphilis • Latent stage • No symptoms • May last a lifetime • Tertiary stage • New lesions – tumor-like • Paralysis and death
Gonorrhea • Sexually transmitted • May exhibit few symptoms • Can cause sterility
Clamydia • Most prevalent STI • Can lead to sterility • Grow only within other cells • Bacteria is “energy parasite”