MICROBIOLOGY

Introduction to Virology
Dr. ESRA HASSAN
Viruses are extremely small agents, can’t be seen under light
microscope. Their particle sizes between 20-300 nm. They can pass
through filters, which prevent the most of bacteria. Viral particles are
not true , called virion that has one type of nucleic acid (either DNA or
RNA). The virion particles are surrounded by protein material called
capsid. The capsid composed of number of submits structure called
capsomeres.
The virions are either composed of capsid, that is surrounded the
nucleic acid which are called naked virions or surrounded with an outer
glycolipid protein, are called enveloped.
The viruses have a nucleic acid which composed of geniuses that
responsible of genetic characters, stability and regulation of propagation
or replication of the viruses in the specific host cells.
The virus particles or virion deficient of organelles that responsible
of energy, protein production they can not be active or replicated
outside the specific host cells. They are completely dependent on the
host cells for all their vital activities including replication.

1-Capsid } Associated with spacifity of the virus

2-Envelope } for a particular type of the host cell.

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 Development of virology associated with develop of different
sciences i.e. Cytology, Pathology, Biochemistry and biophysics, Tissue
culture Immunology, Monoclonal antibodies technique, Embryology.
Shape
1- Cubic
2-Helical
3-Complex (involves cuboidal & helical).

Figure: The structure of virus

These agents have wide spectrum hosts that can be divided upon
the specifity of the host infection to: -

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1-Animal and human viruses (minor specifity: infect specific tissue,
organs, and systems.
2-Plant viruses.
3-Bactrial viruses (Bacteriophages).
4-Fungal viruses.
5-Algal viruses.

The life cycle of virus (Replication)

The replication of the viruses is happened in the host cells that can
be represented in the following processes or phases:
1-Attachment and Absorption
The virus attaches itself to the host cell surface by means of the
specific receptors on its capsid or envelope that are complementary to
those on the host cells.
The host cells lacking the appropriate receptors can not be infected
with virus.
2-Penetration
After the absorption the virus particle (virion) is carried into the cell
by process called pinocytosis or phagocytosis.
3-Uncoating
The virus particle release nuclei acid in the cytoplasm of the host
cell by uncoating of the virion, this uncoating of by means of the
lysozymal enzymes, which produced by the host cell in the case of
infection with envelope virion, that have DNA, this nucleic acid
combined DNA of the host cell, which are be induced to multiplication
the results of this replication is high amounts production of viral DNA.
This process is induced by coded and translated of mRNA of the host
cell. The same process when the host cell is infected with naked virion
that have RNA, but the replication
The result of these metabolic processes is then turned to the
replication of new viral particles.
4-Maturation
Protein capsidare condensed around molecule of viral nucleic acid
to form new virion particles.

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5-Release
Virion particles or mature viruses are released from the host cell by
two ways:
a)-The naked viruses that are replicated in cytoplasm of the host cell are
released from the cell by lyses of the host cell membrane.
b)-The envelope viruses are released by extrusion through the cell
membrane of the host.

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Effects of viral infection on the host cell
Viral invasion in the host cell leads to viral replication, causing
either destruction (lyses), changed (altered) function, or proliferation of
the host cell. The most important effects as follow.
1-Cytopathic effects ( CPE)
The viral effect causes lyses of the host cells by lytic viruses, which
appears as plaques (clear zones) as a result of the lyses of the host cells,
that can be seen by naked eye or by light microscope (Bacteriophages)
2-Inclusion body formation
Inclusion bodies may be formed during the replication of some
viruses in the cytoplasm or nucleus of the host cells. These bodies may
be considered to be colonies of mature viroins or any cellular material
be produced as a results of viral infection. The presence of these
inclusions helps for identification (diagnosis) of some viral infection (i.e.
infection by small pox, poliomyelitis.
3-Cell fusion
Some viral infections cause fusion of the infected host cells. This
fusion happen when the infection with the some enveloped viruses such
as Paramyxoviruses and Herpesviruses.
4-Changing of surface host cells receptors
Viral infection changes the cell membrane or cytoplasmic
membrane components (protein), by fusion of viral protein with cell
membrane protein that causes the induction of the body host to form
humoral immunity against specific viruses.
5-Interferon production
Interferon is a protein substance, produced and released after viral
infection, that cases protection of the non infected cells from the viral
reinfection of the same virus or other.
6- -transforming viruses and cancer

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Fig. show Inclusion body formation

Fig. show CPE .

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Stability
Resistance to heat, drying and ultraviolet irradiation is an important
factor to determination of virus activity in nature. The infectivity of the
most viruses generally disappears by heating at 50-60 oC for 30 minutes.
In dry state viruses are more resistant to heat than in normal hydrated
state.
Diagnosis
There are many steps or methods of examination:
1-Examination of the infected tissues of cells under light and electron
microscope.
2-Serological tests to detect the presence of specific antibodies by: -
a)-Complement fixation or hem agglutination inhibition.
b)-Radioimmunoassay (RIA).
C-Immunodiffusion.
3-Isolation and Identification
4- genome identification (PCR).

Classification of viruses
There are many ways for classification of viruses that are depending
upon different information’s or criteria. Among the most of these are: -
1-Nucleic acid types DNA or RNA, whether it is single or double stranded.
2-Size and morphology of the virion and the capsid.
3-Susceptibility to the physical and chemical agents.
4-Immunological properties.
5-Natural method of transmission.
6-Host, tissue and cell specific infection.

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7-Pathogenicity and clinical picture.
Divided or classified due to the local of specific organ or tissues or
types of cells, that are infected with specific viruses i.e.:
1-Entero-viruses which infects the digestive system.
2-Respiratory viruses that infects the nose, the tracheal and the lung
(Influenza, Pneumonia).
3-Dermo-viruses (Small Pox, Measle, Herps).
4-Neurotropic-viruses, infects the central nervous system, such as
Rabies, Poliomyelitis, Encephalitis.
5-Others such as, Hepatitis (A, B), Mumps, Yellow fever, Chicken,
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) caused by HTLV (Human
T-Lymphocytes Virus) and Syndrome Acute of Respiratory System (SARS)
virus or Severe Acute Respiratory System.
Diseases caused by viruses (viral diseases)
Table: - Demonstrated some viral diseases.

Viruses types Disease and Clinical Picture

Polioviruses Poliomyelitis (paralysis, headache, vomiting and

fever). Portal of entry in human is the mouth.
Prevention by Vaccine.

Coxsakieviruses A & B Group A: causes Herpanging (vascular pharyngitis).

Infection localizes in the back of the mouth and
lesions rarely occur on the gingival.
Group B: causes (Bornholm disease), that is
characteristic by fever, chest pain and respiratory
distress, and pain in the muscle of the back or neck.

Echoviruses (enteric These enteric viruses have been found to be

cytophathogenic associated with various clinical syndromes, such as
upper respiratory diseases, summer diarrhea, and
some times with paralysis resembling poliomyelitis.
The viruses have been isolated from the pharynx,
and gingival; the symptoms closely resemble those
seen with (Oxsakieviruses group B.

Rhinoviruses (common These viruses have been infected the upper

cold viruses) respiratory tract, causes the nasal-stiffness,

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 sneezing, headache, and fever.

Viral Hepatitis The viruses infects the liver tissue cells, there are
groups of viruses, viral hepatitis A, VHB and VHC.
HAV infection has short incubation period 14-45
days. Characterized by jaundice, anorexia, nausea,
and abdominal discomfort.
HBV viral hepatitis B known as serum hepatitis. The
disease appears after long time 50-180 days. The
syndrome may be seen with arthritis, fever,
anorexia, nausea, severe cases are fatal due to
necrosis of liver tissues. Some cases may become
chronic.
HCV viral hepatitis C disease is a severe disease leads
to malignant tumors in liver.

Orthomyxoviruses Influenza virus tends to destroy the ciliated cells of

(Influenza viruses) the nasal, trachea, bronchi and bronchioles. The
disease is characterized by fever, headache, muscle
pains dry cough, nausea, and sometime chest pain

Mumps virus Parotitis is the most common manifestation. The

onset is usually moderately acute with maliase,
headache, muscle aches, fever with swelling of one
parotid or both glands.

Measles virus rubella Agent causing measles disease that characterized by

koplike spot. These spots are small elevated pinpoint
surrounding by dark red areola. The infected child’s
may become dry and ulcerated.

Rubella (German Rubella is typically a disease of young childhood that

measles) is characterized by pinpoint rose-red anathema of
soft palate.

Rabies virus Hydrophoia.

The highly virulent viruses, the incubation period is
from 4-6 weeks. The disease has been caused by
animal bites. The onset of disease in human is by
feeling of apprehension, headache, fever and
sensory changes, leads to encephalitis and death.

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