General Properties of

Viruses

II MBBS
Dr Ekta Chourasia
Microbiology

General Properties
Obligate intracellular parasites
Contain only one type of nucleic acid, either
DNA or RNA
Do not possess cellular organization
Lacks enzymes necessary for protein & NA
synthesis
Depends on host cell machinery for replication
Causes a large no. of human diseases ranging
from minor ailments like common cold to
terrifying diseases such as rabies, HIV etc.

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General Properties
size, structure, shape,
chemical properties, resistance
Replication
Hemagglutination
Cultivation
Viral assay
Viral infections: virus-host interactions
Morphology

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Morphology - Size

Much smaller than bacteria

Filterable agents can pass through filters

that can hold back bacteria

Vary widely in size:

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Largest poxvirus (300nm)

Smallest parvovirus (20nm)

Virion extracellular infectious virus particle

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Morphology - Structure of Virus

E
L
E
C
T
R
O
N

Nucleic acid

Capsid
Envelope
Peplomer
Size in nanometers
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Dr Ekta, Microbiology

M
I
C
R
O
S
C
O
P
E

Morphology Structure &

Shape of a virus

Nucleic acid & capsid with or without envelope.

Capsid the protein coat surrounding the

nucleic acid core. It

protects nucleic acid from inactivation

helps to introduce viral genome into host cell

Capsomers - the repeating protein subunits that

make up the capsid

Protomers the polypeptide chains which

make up the capsomers

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4. Mature
Capsid

1. Protomers

2. Capsomers

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3. ProCapsid

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Morphology Structure & Shape

of a virus: Capsid
symmetrically arranged to
form an impenetrable shell (capsid)
around the nucleic acid core.

Capsomers

This

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symmetry is of two types:

Icosahedral (cubical)
Helical

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Morphology Structure & Shape

of a virus: Capsid

Icosahedron a polygon with 12 corners

(vertices) & 20 sides (facets)

Side equilateral triangle

Two types of capsomers form the capsid
Pentagonal capsomers form the vertices
Hexagonal capsomers form the sides.

Helical the capsomers & nucleic acid

are wound together to form a helical or
spiral tube.

The overall shape of virus is quite

variable, but mostly they are spherical.

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Morphology Structure & Shape

of a virus: Envelope
May or may not be present
Derived from the host cell membrane
Lipoprotein in nature lipid is of host cell origin
while protein is from virus.
Protein subunits seen as projecting spikes on
the surface of envelope called Peplomer.
A virus may have more than one type of
peplomer e.g. influenza virus.
Confers chemical, antigenic & biological
properties.
Susceptible to lipid solvents

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Resistance

Very heat labile but stable at low temperatures

Inactivated within seconds at 56C.

Can be kept frozen at -70C for long term storage.

Inactivated by sunlight, UV rays & ionising radiations.

More resistant than bacteria to chemical disinfectants.

Most active antiviral agents (virucidal) oxidising agents

like hydrogen peroxide, potassium permangnate,
hypochlorites

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Viral Replication
Stages in virus replication begin when virions infect cells
Attachment/
Adsorption
Penetration
Uncoating
Biosynthesis
Maturation &
Assembly
Release
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Pathways for Viral Entry into Host Cell

Surface
Fusion
Receptor-Mediated Endocytosis
Fusion in
Endosome

Lysis of
Endosome
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Viral Replication
phase from the stage of
penetration till the appearance of mature
daughter virions, the virions cannot be
detected inside the host cell.

Eclipse

http://www.liquidjigsaw.com/animation/anim5.htm#
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Abnormal Replicative Cycles

Incomplete viruses - A proportion of daughter

virions are not infective, due to defective
assembly.

Defective viruses genetically defective, unable

to give rise to fully formed progeny.

Abortive infection defect in the type of cell

(non permissive cell), not in the parental
viruses.

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Viral Hemagglutination

Hemagglutination

Reversal of hemagglutination Elution

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Originally seen with the Influenza virus by Hirst in

1941.
A convenient method of detection & assay of
Influenza virus.
Due to the presence of Hemagglutinin spikes on the
surface.

Due to the presence of Neuraminidase enzyme,

Receptor Destroying Enzyme (RDE)
Destruction of receptor reversal of
hemagglutination release of virus from the red cell
surface
Found only in Myxoviuses.
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Virus Culture
Embryonated Egg

Chorioallantioc membrane (CAM)

Allantoic cavity
Amniotic cavity
Yolk Sac

Cell Lines/
Tissue cultures

Primary
Diploid/ Secondary
Continuous

Animal inoculation
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Suckling mice

Embryonated Hens Egg

Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) visible lesions

called pocks. Each infectious virus particle forms one
pock. e.g. Variola, Vaccinia virus

Allantoic cavity Influenza virus (vaccine production) &

paramyxoviruses

Amniotic cavity primary isolation of Influenza virus

Yolk sac Chlmyadia, Rickettsiae & some viruses

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Embryonated Hens Egg

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Viral Assay

Viral content of a specimen: Total no. of

1.
2.

Assay of Infectivity: two types

1.

2.

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Virus particles EM, HA

Infectious virions only

Quantitative assays actual no. of infectious

particle in an inoculum
Quantal assays indicate the presence or
absence of infectious viruses, carried out in
animals, eggs or tissue cultures
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Viral Assay
Assay of Infectivity:
Quantitative assays

Plaque assay in monolayer cell

cultures
Pock assay on CAM

*Each plaque/ pock represents one

infectious virus.

Plaques are clear zones that

develop on lawns of host cells.

The virus plaque is analogous to

the bacterial colony.

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