viruses and prions

Obligate intracellular parasites

Organisms that require host cells to replicate.

Host range

Variety of hosts a virus can infect.

Bacteriophage

Virus that infects bacteria, unlike animal viruses.

Virion

Complete virus particle containing genetic material.

Viral genome

Genetic material of a virus, varies in type.

Capsid

Protein shell surrounding a viral genome.

Viral envelope

Lipid layer surrounding some viruses, derived from hosts.

Polyhedral virus

Virus with a geometric shape, like icosahedrons.

Helical virus

Virus with a rod-like structure, spiral shape.

Enveloped virus

Virus with an outer lipid membrane.

Complex virus

Virus with a complicated structure, not purely helical or polyhedral.

Lytic cycle

Viral replication cycle leading to host cell lysis.

Lysogenic cycle

Viral replication cycle integrating into host genome.

Latent virus

Virus that remains inactive within a host cell.

Phage conversion

Change in host phenotype due to bacteriophage infection.

Animal virus multiplication

Process differing from bacteriophage, involves entry and release.

Adhesins

Viral surface proteins aiding in host cell attachment.

RNA dependent RNA polymerase

Enzyme synthesizing RNA from RNA template, viral origin.

Antigenic drift

Minor mutations in viruses, affecting immune response.

Antigenic shift

Major changes in virus, causing pandemics.

Retrovirus

Virus containing RNA and reverse transcriptase enzyme.

SARS-CoV-2

Virus causing COVID-19, with spike protein interaction.

Influenza A virus

Virus with segmented RNA genome, causing seasonal flu.

Varicella-Zoster virus

Virus causing chickenpox and shingles, with latency.

Human papillomavirus

Virus linked to cervical cancer, affecting tumor suppressors.

Prion

Infectious protein causing neurodegenerative diseases.

BSE outbreak

Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy crisis in the 1980s.