Chapter 4

DIVERSITY OF
MICROORGANISMS
Brandon M. Estigoy, LPT
ACELLULAR INFECTIOUS AGENTS
Viruses
• Virions are complete virus particles that are
very small and simple in structure.
• Most viruses range from the size of 10 to 300
nm in diameter.
Properties that distinguished a
virus from, a living Cells
• They possess either RNA or DNA
• Unable to replicate(multiply) on their own
• They lack the genes and enzymes necessary for energy
production
• They usually depend on their host cell.
A typical virion consists of a genome of either DNA or RNA,
surrounded by a capsid (protein), which composed of small
protein units called capsomeres.
• Enveloped Virus – these are virus that have an outer envelope
• Bacterial Virus – may also have tails, sheath, and tail fibers
There are no ribosomes for protein synthesis or sites of energy

production; hence, the virus must invade and take over a
functioning cell to produce new virions.
Source: https://www.researchgate.net/figure/Non-enveloped-and-enveloped-viruses-a-simple-
schematic-diagram-illustrating-the_fig1_294110884
Ways of Classifying the Virus
• Type of genetic material (either DNA or RNA)
• Shape of the capsid
• Number of capsomers
• Size of the capsomers
• Presence or absence of envelope
• Type of host it infects
• Type of disease it produces
• Target cell
• Immunologic or antigenic properties
• Viruses are categories based on the type of nucleic acid they
possess. They are either dsDNA, dsRNA, ssRNA and ssDNA.
• Viral genome are usually circular molecules, but some are
linear.
• Capsid viruses have various shapes and symmetry. They may be
polyhedral (many sided, also known as icosahedron), helical
(coiled tubes), bullet shaped, spherical, or a complex
combination of these shaped.
• Envelope around a capsids makes virus a virus appear spherical
or irregular under electron micrographs.
• Envelope is derived from either the host cell’s nuclear
membrane.
• Apparently, viruses are then able to alter these membranes by
adding fibers, spikes, and knobs that enable the virus to
recognized the next host cell to be invaded.
BACTERIOPHAGES
• Viruses that infects bacteria. They are obligate intracellular pathogens
• They can be dsDNA phages, dsRNA phages, ssDNA phages, and
ssRNA phages.
3 Categories of Bacteriophages
• Icosahedron bacteriophages: spherical shape with 20 triangular facets.
Smallest is about 25 nm in diamenter
• Filamentous bacteriophages: long tubes formed by capsid proteins
assembled into a helical structure; they can be up to about 900 nm
• Complex bacteriophages: icosahedral heads attached to helical tails;
also possess base plates and tail fibers
Source: https://ysjournal.com/bacteriophages-the-case-for-viruses-in-treatment-
development/
Bacteriophages can be Virulent or Temperate:
• Virulent bacteriophages (lytic cycle), which ends with the
destruction (lysis) of the bacterial cell.
1. Attachment (absorption)
2. Penetration
3. Biosynthesis
4. Release
Steps in the Multiplication of Bacteriophages
Steps Events takes place
Attachment The phage attaches to a protein or polysaccharide molecule
(receptor) on the surface of the bacterial cell
Penetration The phage injects its DNA into the bacterial cell; the capsid
remains on the outside
Biosynthesis Phages genes expressed, (production of phage pieces or parts)
Assembly Phage pieces assembled to create a complete phage
Release The complete phages escape from the bacterial cell by lysis of
the cell
Source: https://courses.lumenlearning.com/microbiology/chapter/the-viral-life-cycle/
Bacteriophages can be Virulent or Temperate:
• Temperate phages (lysogenic phages) – do not immediately initiate
the lytic cycle, but rather, their DNA remains integrated into the
bacterial cell chromosome, generation after generation.
Source: https://krystalbio11.weebly.com/microbiology.html
ANIMAL VIRUS
• Viruses that infects humans and animals
• Some are DNA viruses; others are RNA
viruses.
• Animal viruses may consist solely of nucleic
acids surrounded by a capsid, or they may be
complex.
Source: https://www.nhcoa.org/influenza-vs-covid-19-whats-the-difference/
Steps Multiplication of Animal Viruses
1. Attachment (absorption) – animal viruses can only attach to
cells bearing the appropriate protein or polysaccharide
receptors on their surface
Viruses can only attach to and invade cells that bear a

receptor that they can recognize and attach to.
2. Penetration – the entire virion usually enters the cell; cell
phagocytizes the virus.
3. Uncoating – whereby the viral nucleic acid escapes from the
capsid
4. Biosynthesis - whereby many viral pieces (viral nucleic acid and
viral proteins) are produced.
5. Assembly – the viral pieces or parts are assembled to create
complete virions.
6. Release – the complete virions escape from the host cell by lysis
or budding
Source:
https://cours
es.lumenlear
ning.com/mi
crobiology/c
hapter/the-
viral-life-
cycle/
Viroid
• Viroids consist of short, naked fragments of ssRNA (about 300
to 400 nucleotides in length) that can interfere with the
metabolism of plant cells and stunt the growth of plants,
sometimes killing the plants in the process.
Potato spindle tuber, citrus exortis (stunting of citrus trees),

and disease of chrysanthemums are cause by viriods.
Prions
• Prions are small infectious proteins that apparently cause fatal
neurologic diseases in animals such as scrapie in sheep, bovine
spongiform encephalopathy.
Potato spindle tuber, citrus exortis (stunting of citrus trees),

and disease of chrysanthemums are cause by viriods.
Oncogenic Viruses
• Viruses that causes cancer
Examples:
Source: https://www.nfid.org/infectious-
diseases/hpv/
Source: https://www.takarabio.com/about/bioview-blog/cancer-research/when-
epstein-barr-virus-becomes-a-chronic-menace
Antiviral
• Any physical or chemical agents that inactivate viruses
REFERENCES:
• Burtons, G.R.W,. & Engelkirk, P.G (2007). Burton’s
Microbiology: For Health Sciences 8th ed.

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DIVERSITY OF

There are no ribosomes for protein synthesis or sites of energy

Viruses can only attach to and invade cells that bear a

Potato spindle tuber, citrus exortis (stunting of citrus trees),

Potato spindle tuber, citrus exortis (stunting of citrus trees),

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