Viral Replication and Related Concepts

Flashcards summarizing key vocabulary related to viral replication and associated concepts.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects bacteria.

Viral replication steps

The five basic steps of viral replication are attachment, entry, synthesis, assembly, and release.

Lytic cycle

A viral replication cycle where the virus destroys the host cell after replication.

Lysogenic cycle

A viral replication cycle in which the virus integrates its genome into the host cell's chromosome and can remain dormant.

Prophage

The viral genome that has been incorporated into the host cell's chromosome during the lysogenic cycle.

Induction

The process that triggers a dormant prophage to enter the lytic cycle and begin producing new viruses.

Oncogenes

Genes that can cause normal cells to become cancerous by promoting cell division.

Tumor suppressor genes

Genes that help control cell growth and division and can prevent cancer; they function as brakes on the cell cycle.

Spongiform encephalopathies

Brain diseases caused by prions, characterized by sponge-like deterioration of brain tissue.

Prions

Infectious agents composed of misfolded proteins that can induce normal proteins to misfold, leading to disease.

Reverse transcription

The process by which RNA is converted into DNA, utilized by certain viruses like HIV.

Acellular

Describes entities like viruses that are not composed of cells.

Latent stage

A period during which a virus remains inactive within a host cell and does not produce new virus particles.

Induction triggers

Events that cause dormant viruses to reactivate, often due to stress on the host cell.

Viral genome

The genetic material of a virus, which can be RNA or DNA and is essential for viral replication.

Enveloped virus

A virus that is surrounded by a lipid membrane; it can acquire its envelope from the host cell's membrane during replication.

Non-enveloped virus

A virus that lacks a lipid membrane and typically exits the host cell by lysis or exocytosis.