Unit 3 - Viruses

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions related to viruses as taught in Unit 5.

Virion

A complete virus particle that consists of an RNA or DNA core surrounded by a protein coat (capsid).

Acellular

Referring to viruses, which are non-living entities that do not have cellular structures.

Obligate Intracellular Parasites

Organisms, such as viruses, that can only replicate inside a living host cell.

Capsid

The protein coat that encloses a viral genome; made up of protein subunits called capsomers.

Lytic Cycle

The reproductive cycle of bacteriophages that results in the destruction of the host cell.

Prophage

A viral genome that is integrated into the DNA of a bacterial host during the lysogenic cycle.

Cytopathic Effect (CPE)

The observable effects of viral infection on a host cell's morphology and behavior.

Tempering Phages

Bacteriophages that can integrate their DNA into the host genome and do not immediately cause cell lysis.

Host Range

The spectrum of hosts that a virus can infect, determined by the virus's ability to attach to host cells.

Viral Specificity

The specific types of cells or tissues that a virus can infect within a host organism.