study Notes on Viruses, Study notes of Nursing

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Viruses @ A virus consists of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a protein coat (capsid) © Viruses hijack other cells © Obligate intracellular (inside cell) parasites ® Cannot replicate or make proteins without using a living cell @ If viruses are not alive they can’t be killed @ Challenging to design effective anti-viral agents e@ Most common viral infections are usually minor and are self- limiting ~ but there are exceptions like Cowvid-19 cell Viral infection and replication A-D: Virus attaches & enters cell __E: virus releases genetic material into the host cell __ F: hijacks the host cell’s replication machinery to make more viral nucleic acid and more protein coats ~ G: assembled into new viruses which leave the cell (H) and move on to infect other neighbouring cells (or another person) G @ Unfortunately, host cells may die as a consequence of a viral infection; host cell’s energy and nutrients are depleted @ May prevent host cell from performing normal metabolic activities e@ Many viruses result in lysing the host cell membrane when they are exiting @Some take part of the host’s cell membrane with them: these are called enveloped viruses. © Sometimes after viral infection, the host cell can be transformed into a cancerous cell @ x Epstein-Barr virus causes glandular fever which produces flu-like symptoms. Occasionally, if severe enough, some individuals develop a form of lymphatic cancer called Burkitt's lymphoma Clinically important viruses Clinically important viruses - Coronavirus @ Hepatitis B virus © Retroviruses @ In humans, several coronaviruses are known ; Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) _ t© cause respiratory infections ranging from ® Herpes viruses the common cold to more severe diseases © Papilloma viruses (warts) such as: @ Pox viruses © Middle East Respiratory Syndrome @ Influenza viruses (MERS) and ® Coronaviruses - a large family of viruses which may © Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome cause illness in animals or humans (SARS ©The most recently discovered coronavirus causes Coronavirus disease COVID-19