Classification of Medically

Important Viruses
@ Two components of virus are used
in classification :

1. Molecular weight & structure of

nucleic acid
2. Size, symmetry ,& envelope of
capsid
 DNA VIRUSES
1. 3 nonenveloped, icosahedral virus
families:*parvoviruses,
*papovaviruses, *adenoviruses
2. 3 enveloped virus families :
a) hepadnavirus family, eg :
hepatitis B virus – icosahedral
b) herpesviruses - icosahedral .
c) pox viruses - complex symmetry
Papovaviruses
@ Nonenveloped (naked) icosahedral viruses ,
with double-stranded circular DNA.
@ Known: papilloma, polyoma, simian viruses
@ 3 human papovaviruses known :
1.JC virus, isolated from progressive
multifocal leukoencephalopathy cases .
2.BK virus, isolated from urine of kidney
transplant patients .
3.Human papillomavirus
Adenoviruses
@ Naked icosahedral, Ds. linear
DNA viruses
@ Cause pharyngitis, URT & LRT
diseases .
@ There are at least 40
antigenic types .
Parvoviruses
@ Very small, nonenveloped,
icosahedral, Ss. , linear DNA.
@ 2 types of parvoviruses:
Defective & nondefective :
• Defective require a helper virus
for replication.
• Nondefective ,e.g. B 19 virus
Hepadnaviruses

@ These are double-stranded

viruses with an icosahedral capsid
covered by an envelope.

@ Hepatitis B virus is the human

pathogen in this family.
Herpesviruses
@ Enveloped, icosahedral, Ds.,
linear DNA viruses
@ Cause latent infections.
@ The 5 important pathogens:
*herpes simplex types I & 2,
*varicella-zoster,
*CMV
*Epstein-Barr cause of IM.
Poxviruses
@ Largest virus with a bricklike
shape, an envelope, & a complex
capsid symmetry.
@ Cause skin lesions, or "pocks"
@ Smallpox & vaccinia are the
two important members.
@ Vaccinia virus is used in
smallpox vaccine.
 RNA VIRUSES
@ 14 families of RNA viruses .
@ 3 naked icosahedral viruses :
1. Picornavirus
2. Calicivirus
3. Reovirus
@ 3 enveloped icosahedral viruses:
1. Flavivirus
2. Togavirus
3. Retrovirus
@ 8 are enveloped helical viruses:
* 5 have Ss. linear RNA, e.g:
(1) orthomyxovirus
(2) paramyxovirus
(3) rhabdovirus
(4) filovirus
(5) coronavirus
* 3 have Ss. circular RNA, e.g:
(1) arenavirus
(2) bunyavirus
(3) deltavirus .
Picornaviruses
@ The smallest RNA viruses.

@ Have Ss, linear, nonsegmented RNA

within a naked icosahedral capsid.

@ "picorna" is derived from pico- small

@ Divided into 2 groups of pathogens:

(I) enteroviruses : poliovirus, echovirus

Caliciviruses

@ Naked , icosahedral viruses.

@ Have Ss, linear, nonsegmented,

RNA.
@ 2 human pathogens:
* Norwalk virus
Reoviruses

@ Naked viruses with 2 icosahedral

capsid coats.
@ Have 10 segments of Ds. linear
RNA.
@ Main pathogen is rotavirus,
causing diarrhea in infants.
Flaviviruses
@ Enveloped, icosahedral, Ss,
linear, nonsegmented, RNA viruses

@ Include :
•hepatitis C virus,
•yellow fever virus,
•dengue virus,
•St. Louis encephalitis viruses.
•Japanese encephalitis viruses.
Togaviruses
@ Enveloped, icosahedral, Ss,
linear, nonsegmented RNA viruses
:groups of human pathogens 2 @
: Alphaviruses: include *
eastern & western encephalitis
viruses
* Rubiviruses: contain only rubella
virus
Retroviruses
@ Enveloped, icosahedral, with 2 strands of
Ss , linear RNA viruses
@ "retro" pertains to the reverse
transcription of RNA into DNA.
@ 2 medically important groups:
1.oncovirus group, contains the sarcoma &
leukemia viruses, e.g.
(human T cell leukemia virus-HTLV)
2.lentivirus group includes human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV) .
Orthomyxoviruses
@ Enveloped, with a helical capsid
& 8 segments of linear, Ss RNA.

@ "myxo" means affinity for

mucins.

@ Influenza virus is the main

human pathogen.
Paramyxoviruses
@ Enveloped, helical, Ss , linear,
non segmented RNA viruses
@ Human pathogens are :
*measles,
*mumps,
*parainfluenza,
*respiratory syncytial (RSV).
Rhabdoviruses
@ Bullet-shaped enveloped
viruses with a helical, Ss , linear,
nonsegmented RNA viruses
@"rhabdo" refers to bullet shape.
@ Rabies virus is the only
important human pathogen.
Filoviruses
@ Enveloped, helical, Ss , linear,
nonsegmented RNA viruses.

@ Pleomorphic, long filaments .

@ "filo" means "thread" .
@ 2 human pathogens are :
*Ebola virus
*Marburg virus.
Coronaviruses
@ Enveloped, helical, Ss , linear,
nonsegmented RNA viruses .
@ "corona" refers to crown of
spikes protruding from envelope.
@ Cause respiratory tract
infections (e.g. common cold) .
Arenaviruses
@ Enveloped, helical, Ss, circular,
2 segments RNA viruses
@ "arena" is "sand“, refers to
ribosome granules on virus surface
@ 2 human pathogens are known :

*lymphocytic choriomeningitis
virus
Bunyaviruses
@ Enveloped, helical, Ss, circular
3 segments RNA viruses .
@ "bunya" refers to the place in
Africa where it was isolated.

@ Cause encephalitis & fevers

e.g Korean hemorrhagic fever.
Deltavirus
@ Hepatitis delta virus (HDV) is
the only member of this genus.
@ Enveloped, helical, circular, Ss,

RNA virus
@ It is a defective virus “cannot
replicate unless hepatitis B
virus (HBV) is present within
the same cell”