Poliovirus Lecture Notes

A set of vocabulary flashcards based on the lecture notes covering poliovirus, its characteristics, vaccine development, and related concepts.

Poliovirus

A virus in the Picornaviridae family that can cause paralysis and is transmitted via the fecal-oral route.

Picornaviridae

A family of viruses that are small, including poliovirus and rhinovirus, transmitting through the intestine.

Enterovirus

A genus of viruses that transmit via the fecal-oral route, including poliovirus.

Poliomyelitis

A disease caused by poliovirus that can lead to paralysis.

Inactivated Poliovirus Vaccine (IPV)

A polio vaccine developed by Jonas Salk in the 1950s that uses killed virus.

Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV)

An attenuated polio vaccine developed by Albert Sabin in the 1960s that can replicate in the intestine.

Attenuation

The process of weakening a virus so that it induces immunity without causing disease.

Vaccine-Derived Poliovirus (VDPV)

A form of poliovirus that can revert to virulence from the OPV, potentially causing outbreaks.

Post-polio syndrome

A condition that can affect polio survivors 30-40 years after recovery, causing muscle weakness.

CNS infection

Central Nervous System infection that occurs in 0.5 to 1% of poliovirus cases, potentially leading to paralysis.

Asymptomatic infections

Infections that do not present symptoms, contributing to the virus's spread.

Reversion to virulence

The mutation of a vaccine virus back to a virulent form, a significant concern for OPV.

Polio eradication efforts

Global initiatives started in 1988 to eradicate polio using vaccines.

Tropism

The preference of a virus for certain cells or tissues, influencing the outcomes of infections.

Immunocompromised hosts

Individuals whose immune systems are weakened, making them susceptible to infections.