Doesn’t belong to any kingdom

-It’s not a plant or an animal.

-It’s not a fungi, protist, or
bacteria.

WHAT IS A VIRUS?
 A virus is an infectious agent made up of
• nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in
• a protein coat called a capsid.
Bacteriophage Influenza (Flu)
DNA = Genetic material = RNA

Tail Capsid
(Protein Coat)
sheath

Envelope
Tail (Lipids & Glycoproteins)
fiber
 Can viruses infect any cell?

Viruses can only attack certain cell

types. They are said to be HOST
specific.
Example:
The rabies virus only attacks
brain or nervous cells.

It’s like the pieces of a puzzle. The ends have to match

up so only certain pieces fit (“Lock & Key” fit).
Ex. Bacteriophage virus infect bacterial
cells only.
A virus recognizes cells it can infect by matching
its surface marker with a receptor site on a cell.
Surface Markers Virus
(Antigens)
Cell

Receptor
Sites
 Antigens = Surface markers
(proteins)

Bacteriophage
Influenza (Flu)

Antigens
spike like projections
(Glycoproteins)
 Viruses vs. Cells
(structure)

vs.
• DNA or RNA • DNA and RNA
• Capsid (protein coat)
• No organelles • Organelles
• No cytoplasm • Cytoplasm
 Are viruses alive?
• Made of one or more cells? Non-cellular - NOT organisms
• Grow and develop? No
• Eat for energy? No
• Metabolize nutrients? No
• Respond to stimuli? No
• Maintain homeostasis? No
• Adapt to environment? Yes – viruses can mutate
(change over time) (change). Ex. Influenza-
• Reproduce? Yes new vaccine every year

• Reproduce on their own? No – need a host.

Viruses share some characteristics of living things, but
need to meet all criteria to be considered living.
 How many characteristics
of life do viruses possess?

*Genetic Material
*Change over time

Are viruses living?

 Viruses are parasites
What is a parasite?
Parasite is an organism that depends entirely upon
another living organism (a host) for its existence in
such a way that it harms that organism.

Ex. A flea is a parasite to a

dog and is harmful to the
dog.
 Viruses are parasites
Viruses must have a living host to
reproduce.
Viruses hijack
a living cell’s
machinery
and use it to
reproduce
more virus
particles.
 Viruses are pathogens
What is a pathogen?
Pathogen is any agent that causes diseases.
 Two stages of viral reproduction
• An active, infectious stage. It is
called a Lytic infection.
Ex. Influenza (Flu virus)
• A dormant (sleeping) stage. It is
called a Lysogenic infection.
Ex. HIV
(Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
Lytic vs. Lysogenic Cycles
 LYTIC CYCLE

Viral DNA is injected Viral DNA is

into cell. Bacterial DNA
Virus attaches copied & viral
is destroyed. parts are made.
to cell.
Step 2 Step 3
Step 1

Viral parts are Cell bursts (lyses) and

assembled releases new viruses.
Viruses spread.
Step 4 Step 5
LYTIC CYCLE
A virus CANNOT reproduce by itself—it
must invade a host cell and take over
the cell activities, eventually causing
destruction of the cell and killing it.
(The virus enters a cell, makes copies of
itself and causes the cell to burst
releasing more viruses.)
 Checkpoint

What are the stages of the lytic cycle?

What does “lysis” mean?

What is the result of the lytic cycle?

LYSOGENIC CYCLE
Some viruses like HIV do NOT go straight into
the lytic cycle.
These viruses enter a long (dormant) period -
between an infection and the onset off disease.

= prophage (viral DNA)

 LYSOGENIC CYCLE
• Virus enters a long (dormant) period between an
infection and the onset off disease.
• Viral genetic material (DNA) incorporates into a host’s
DNA and called a prophage.
• Virus replicates its genetic material without destroying
the host.
• Every time the host divides, it copies the viral DNA and
passes the copies.
• Various factors such as UV light can trigger a virus to
enter the LYTIC CYCLE  cell bursts
 Lytic vs. Lysogenic Cycles
Lytic Lysogenic
Rapid: Causes disease right Long period between infection
away and onset off disease (dormant
Ex. Influenza period). Ex. HIV

Does NOT involve integration Involves integration of viral

of viral genetic material into genetic material into the host’s
the host genetic material. genetic material forming a
prophage.

Result in host destruction: Eventually enters the Lytic Cycle

Host cell lyses (bursts) and host cell lyses.
 Checkpoint
What does “dormant” mean?
Which infection (cycle) involves integration of
viral DNA into the host’s DNA?
Which infection (cycle)results in cell
lysis (cell bursting)?
Which infection (cycle)causes disease
right away?
 Types of Viruses
Viruses have either DNA or RNA but NOT both.
Viruses with RNA are called
retroviruses.
Examples:
HIV Influenza (Flu)
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus)
most deadly human virus ever
HIV is a lysogenic virus. What does it
mean to be “lysogenic”?
Long period between infection & onset
of disease.
• HIV has 2 copies of RNA.
• Is a retrovirus
(RNA  DNA)
 HIV
HIV causes AIDS.
• Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
• HIV attacks the immune system.
If HIV has reduced the immune system function, an
individual is at risk of life-threatening infections and
diseases such as pneumonia and cancer. Your body is
unable to fight off infection and diseases.

HIV can be transmitted through blood –to-

blood contact and sexual activity (exchange of
sexual fluids and blood).
 HIV
What cells of the immune system
does HIV target?

HIV infects only certain white blood cells:

Helper T cells
Helper T-cell operates as a judge that identifies
infections and “orders” their destruction to other white
blood that make ANTIBODIES  bloodstream 
combat invading pathogen such as viruses and harmful
bacteria.
 What are antibodies?
Antibodies are proteins used by the immune
system to identify and neutralize foreign
invaders such as viruses and harmful bacteria.

Each antibody
recognizes a
specific antigen
unique to its
target.
*Harmful Viruses
Causes disease—pathogenic
Disease producing agent—pathogen

Human Diseases:
Warts, common cold, Influenza
(flu), Smallpox, Ebola, Herpes,
AIDS, Chicken pox, Rabies
 How can viruses be prevented?
Viruses disrupt the body’s normal
equilibrium/balance (homeostasis)
Viruses can be prevented with vaccines, but
NOT treated with antibiotics.
(antibiotics treat bacteria)

WHAT IS VACCINE?
Weakened virus
 *Viruses can help cells, too
Beneficial:
Genetic Engineering—harmless virus carries good genes into cells.
Replace faulty or missing genes in a cell.