Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

Flashcards covering key terms and concepts related to viruses, viroids, and prions for microbiology.

Virus

A small infectious agent that can only replicate inside the living cells of an organism.

Virion

A complete virus particle that consists of nucleic acid surrounded by a protein coat.

Bacteriophage

A virus that infects bacteria.

Lytic cycle

The phase of viral replication in which the virus causes the lysis (destruction) of the host cell.

Lysogenic cycle

A phase of viral replication where the viral genome integrates into the host genome and replicates with it without lysing the host cell.

Capsid

The protein shell of a virus, enclosing its genetic material.

Nucleocapsid

The combination of the virus's capsid and its nucleic acid.

Filamentous virus

A virus that has a long, thin shape, such as M13 phage.

Oncovirus

A virus that can cause cancer in humans.

Prophage

A phage genome that has been inserted into a bacterial host's DNA.

Transduction

The process by which DNA is transferred from one bacterium to another by a virus.

Viroid

A plant pathogen consisting of a short strand of circular, single-stranded RNA without a protein coat.

Prion

An infectious agent composed solely of protein, which can cause neurodegenerative diseases.

Antigenic drift

The gradual process by which mutations accumulate in viral genomes and lead to changes in viral antigens.

Antigenic shift

The process by which two different strains of a virus combine to form a new subtype.