Viruses

Vocabulary flashcards covering virus definition, anatomy, lytic cycle steps, and lysogenic viruses based on lecture notes.

Virus

A submicroscopic, non-living infectious particle that acts as an obligate intracellular parasite and is usually host specific.

Obligate Intracellular Parasite

An agent that requires a host cell to function and replicate.

Host Specific

The property of a virus where it usually can only infect one specific type of living thing.

Capsid

The protein coat surrounding a virus's genetic material (DNA or RNA).

Surface Markers

Spikes or proteins on a virus with a definite shape that bind to host cell membrane proteins like a lock and key.

Attachment / Adsorption

The first step of the viral lytic cycle, where the virus attaches to the host cell and viral proteins bind on cell membrane proteins like a lock and key.

Entry / Penetration

The second step of the viral lytic cycle, where genetic material enters the cell and the capsid falls off.

Replication + Synthesis

The third step of the viral lytic cycle, where the virus takes over the host cell to make more viruses.

Assembly / Maturation

The fourth step of the viral lytic cycle, where new viruses are put together.

Release

The fifth step of the viral lytic cycle, where the host cell opens and viruses leave.

Lysogenic Viruses

Viruses that perform steps 1 (Attachment) and 2 (Entry) of the cycle, and then embed themselves into host cells.