Viruses
A virus is defined as a bit of nucleic acid RNA or DNA surrounded by a protective coat and this
small bit of nucleic acid can regenerate by commanding the metabolic machinery f an
appropriate prokaryotic or eukaryotic host. It is certain, however that viruses are neither alive nor
have the characteristics associated with a viable cell.
Structure of virus
At the core of the virus is the viral genome which can be composed of either RNA or DNA.
Unlike the cells of animal, plant or bacteria, a virus rarely contains both. The nucleic acid is
bound by a protective protein coat termed a capsid. The capsid and genome together form a
nucleocapsid. In some viruses, a membrane envelope surrounds the nucleocapid and these
viruses are considered to be enveloped viruses. For these viruses, host cellular membrane is the
source of the viral envelope and surrounds the nucleocapsid as it exits from an infected cell virus
specific proteins that are present in the envelope are embedded in the cellular membrane prior to
virus envelopment.
Size
Electron microscopy has affirmed that viruses vary widely in size and structure. A very small
virus, the polio virus is about 20nm in diameter, large virus such as pox viruses are 400nm long
and 200 nm in width.
Classification
Viruses are classified based on their nucleic \acid as
DNA Viruses
RNA Viruses
Viral propagation
There are four distinct phases in viral replication:
1. Attachment
2. Penetration
3. Gene expression and gene replication, and
4. Assembly
Attachment or adsorption: these are specific sites on the surface of a cell where the virion
attaches
Penetration or injection: the nucleic acid of the virion gains access to the cytoplasm of the host.
Bacterial and plant viruses initiating an infection must gain entry and plant viruses initiating an
infection must gain entry through the cell wall, where as animal viruses enter through the cell
membrane. This process influences virus structure.
Gene expression and genome replication: once inside, the viral genome is expressed and
duplicated. This leads to the formation of gene product that control the replication of viral
nucleic acid and capsid synthesis.
Assemble and release: the viral nucleic acid is packaged into the capsid and mature virus is
released. A virus needs host for replication, since ATP, ribosomes, and other building blocks are
supplied by the host cell. Enzymes involved in viral replication are often also supplied by the
host with or without modification. Entry of viral genome generally results in immediate cessation
of many normal host cell functions and the replication of viral nucleic acid.
Viral replication can be of two types
Lytic cycle and Lysogenic cycle
The normal replication process which is mentioned above is the lytic cycle, where at the end of
the cycle the host cell is lysed or ruptured.
Lysogenic cycle involves the attachment and penetration followed by the integration of the viral
gene/genome with host genome. The copy of viral gene/genome is passed on to the daughter
cells. Until there is any induction of the viral genome it remains dormant within the host genome,
once the viral genome is activated by means of any physical or chemical agent , viral gene starts
to replicate entering into the lytic cycle.
HIV is one such example of lysogenic cycle, HIV is a retrovirus, which has two single stranded
RNA as its genome and reverse transcriptase enzymes which is unique to all retrovirus, that
Copies the Viral genomic RNA to DNA and which facilitates the replication of the viral genome
using the host cell mechanism. The following figure describes the life cycle HIV in the host cell.
