RNA Viruses – High-Yield Review (Video)

Vocabulary flashcards covering positive-sense and negative-sense RNA virus families, their genome properties, examples, associated diseases, and treatments.

Picornaviridae

Naked, icosahedral, +ssRNA; examples: Poliovirus, Coxsackievirus, Echovirus, Rhinovirus, HAV; diseases: poliomyelitis, hand-foot-mouth disease, aseptic meningitis, common cold, hepatitis A; treatment: supportive; vaccines for polio and HAV.

Caliciviridae

Naked, +ssRNA; example: Norovirus; disease: viral gastroenteritis; treatment: supportive (rehydration).

Flaviviridae

Enveloped, +ssRNA; examples: HCV, Yellow fever virus, Dengue, Zika, West Nile virus; diseases: hepatitis C, hemorrhagic fever, microcephaly (Zika), neuroinvasive illness (WNV); treatment: supportive; antivirals for HCV (e.g., sofosbuvir).

Togaviridae

Enveloped, +ssRNA; examples: Rubella, Chikungunya, Equine encephalitis viruses; diseases: Rubella (TORCH), polyarthritis, encephalitis; vaccine: MMR.

Retroviridae

Enveloped, +ssRNA (diploid) with reverse transcriptase; examples: HIV, HTLV; diseases: AIDS, T-cell leukemia; treatment: antiretrovirals (NRTIs, NNRTIs, protease inhibitors).

Coronaviridae

Enveloped, helical, +ssRNA; examples: SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV-2; diseases: respiratory syndromes, COVID-19; treatment: supportive; antivirals (remdesivir); steroids in severe COVID-19.

Hepeviridae

Naked, +ssRNA; example: HEV; disease: Hepatitis E (especially severe in pregnant women); treatment: supportive (self-limited).

Arenaviridae

Enveloped, segmented -ssRNA; example: LCMV (lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus); disease: aseptic meningitis; treatment: supportive.

Bunyaviridae

Enveloped, segmented -ssRNA; examples: Hantavirus, Rift Valley fever, Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever; disease: pulmonary syndrome, hemorrhagic fever; treatment: supportive.

Paramyxoviridae

Enveloped, -ssRNA; examples: Measles, Mumps, RSV, Parainfluenza; diseases: Measles (Koplik spots, SSPE), Mumps (orchitis), RSV bronchiolitis; treatment: Ribavirin for RSV; MMR vaccine for measles and mumps.

Orthomyxoviridae

Enveloped, segmented -ssRNA; example: Influenza virus; disease: flu, pneumonia, Reye syndrome; treatment: Oseltamivir, Zanamivir (neuraminidase inhibitors).

Filoviridae

Enveloped, filamentous -ssRNA; examples: Ebola, Marburg; disease: hemorrhagic fever with high mortality; treatment: supportive; investigational antivirals.

Rhabdoviridae

Enveloped, bullet-shaped -ssRNA; example: Rabies virus; disease: rabies – encephalitis, hydrophobia; treatment: post-exposure prophylaxis (vaccine + immunoglobulin).