Biol80J Study Guide #4

What group is Ebola virus in?

Group V

How could you diagnose an Ebola infection?

ELISA, electron microscopy, virus isolation, RT-PCR assay

What are the early onset (days 2-21) symptoms of Ebola?

Flu-like symptoms, vomiting, diarrhea, symptoms of an impaired kidney/liver infection

What is the likely reservoir for Ebola?

Bats

What continent has the zoonotic niche for Ebola?

Africa

Have there been recorded Ebola infections in the United States?

Yes (2014)

What is the virus used to make the Ebola vaccine? What is different about the virus that allows it to be a vaccine?

Vesicular stomatitis virus - triggers an immune response in the body, preparing it to fight off Ebola without causing the disease itself

Dengue has a +strand RNA genome, can this be directly translated into proteins?

Yes

What group is Dengue in?

Group IV

What spreads Dengue?

Mosquitos

How many serotypes of Dengue exist?

4

How many approximate Dengue infections occur on this planet each year?

100-400 million

Before 1970 how many countries experienced Dengue each year?

9

Does a second infection of Dengue have poorer outcomes? If so, why?

Yes, a second infection can lead to more severe outcomes due to the phenomenon known as antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE), where pre-existing antibodies from the first infection facilitate the entry of the virus into cells, leading to a stronger immune response and increased severity.

Is there a vaccine for Dengue? If so, are there limitations?

Yes there is a vaccine for Dengue, but it is limited to individuals who have had a prior Dengue infection due to the risk of severe disease in those without previous exposure.

Are there RNA vaccines in development for Dengue?

Yes

Hanta virus has a -strand RNA genome, can this be directly translated into proteins?

No

What group is Hanta in?

Group V

What spreads Hanta?

Through contact with infected rodent droppings, urine, or saliva.

What is the likely reservoir for Hanta?

Rodents, particularly deer mice

What is a prodrug?

A medication that is administered in an inactive form and is metabolized in the body to produce an active drug.

Zika has a +strand RNA genome, can this be directly translated into proteins?

Yes

What group is Zika in?

Group IV

What spreads Zika?

Mosquitos

In what country was Zika first isolated?

Uganda

Does Zika cause a lethal infection in adults?

No

What birth defect does Zika virus cause?

Microcephaly

What was the size difference in Zika infected brain organoids compared to non-infected?

Infected organoids grew to ½ the size of uninfected organoids

Are there any current treatments for Zika?

No known pharmaceutical treatments

What are the 5 potential problems of Zika?

Rapid geographic dissemination, nonspecific clinical presentation, need vaccine distribution, lack of specific diagnostic test, growing habitat zone for Aedes aegypti

West Nile has a +strand RNA genome, can this be directly translated into proteins?

Yes

What group is West Nile in?

What group is West Nile in?

Group IV

What spreads West Nile?

Mosquitos

Are African birds susceptible to West Nile?

No

How do they know the Israeli West Nile virus and the Bronx West Nile virus are the same?

Identical sequences

How long (in years) did it take West Nile virus to be in 12 of the United States?

1 year

What family of birds was devastated by West Nile?

Corvidae family

What are the 3 possibly devastating clinical outcomes of a West Nile infection?

Meningitis, Encephalitis, Acute anterior (polio) myelitis

What group is Adeno Associated virus in?

Group II

How many AAV capsid genes are there? In what ratio are they produced?

3 (VP 1-3), ratio of 1:1:10

The AAV genome is how big? How much information (in DNA bases) can you put in its place?

~4.7 kilobases (~4700 DNA bases)

To make AAV in the lab you need a producer cell (example HeLa or HEK293T)?

Yes

T/F all AAVs infect all cells?

False

T/F they are attempting to use AAV to treat hemophilia?

True

T/F HIV is a lentivirus?

True

T/F they are using Herpes virus to treat cancer?

True