Intro to Virology

What is a virus?

Genetic material surrounded by a protein coat and sometimes a lipid envelope.

What kind of parasite are viruses?

Obligate intracellular parasites.

What do all viruses contain?

A viral genome: DNA/RNA

A viral caspid: a protein coat

What is an envelope, which some viruses contain?

A lipid bilayer with glycoproteins that can help viruses bind to cells.

Viruses with envelopes are more fragile.

How are viruses classified?

Order-Family-(Subfamily)-Genus-Species-(Strains/subtypes-Variants)

(Oh for goodness sake)

What is horizontal transmission?

Person to person.

What is vertical trasnmission?

Mother to foetus.

What are spme mechanisms of transmission?

Direct contact

Aerosols

Contaminated surfaces

Exchange of body fluids

Insects

Contaminated food and water

How can viruses be treated?

Vaccination - long term solution

Some antivirals exist - hard to develop ones that aren’t toxic

What types of vaccines exist?

Live attenuated

Inactivated

Subunit

Conjugate

Genetic

How long do vaccines normally take to develop?

~10 years

What are some non-pharmaceutical interventions?

Isolation of infected

Restriction of animal/human movement

Slaughter of infected animals

Control of vectors

Education and public health messaging