Replication of Viruses

Dr . Mohsin

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Viral Multiplication
The host cell is absolutely necessary for viral multiplication
Different steps in Multiplication.

Adsorption

Penetration

Uncoating

Synthesis

Assembly

Release
 Adsorption

 Virus encounters susceptible host cells

 Adsorbs specifically to receptor sites on the cell membrane

 Because of the exact fit required, viruses have a limited

host range
 Penetration

 Flexible cell membrane of the host is penetrated by the

whole virus or its nucleic acid

 Endocytosis: entire virus engulfed by the cell and

enclosed in a vacuole or vesicle.

 Fusion – envelope merges directly with membrane resulting in

nucleocapsid’s entry into cytoplasm

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Uncoating

 Enzymes in the vacuole dissolve the envelope and

capsid
 The virus is now uncoated
 Viral nucleic acid exerts control over the host’s
synthetic and metabolic machinery
Replication and Protein Production
 Replication and Protein ProductionVaries depending on
whether the virus is a DNA or RNA virus.
 DNA viruses generally are replicated and
assembled in the nucleus.
 RNA viruses generally are replicated and

assembled in the cytoplasm.

◦ Positive-sense RNA contain the message for
translation.
◦ Negative-sense RNA must be converted into
positive-sense message.

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 Synthesis

 Free viral nucleic acid exerts control over the host’s synthetic and

metabolic machinery.
 DNA viruses- enter host cell’s nucleus where they are replicated and

assembled

◦ DNA enters the nucleus and is transcribed into RNA

◦ The RNA becomes a message for synthesizing viral proteins

(translation)

◦ New DNA is synthesized using host nucleotides

 RNA viruses- replicated and assembled in the cytoplasm
Assembly

 Mature virus particles are constructed from the

growing pool of parts such as

(capsid prtein , DNA/RNA, spikes, tail).

Release

Assembled viruses leave host cell in one of two ways:

 budding – exocytosis; nucleocapsid binds to membrane
which pinches off and sheds the viruses gradually; cell is not
immediately destroyed.
 lysis – nonenveloped and complex viruses released when cell
dies and ruptures.
 Number of viruses released is variable

e.g. 3,000-4,000 released by poxvirus

>100,00 released by poliovirus

 Virus genomes
 I: Double-stranded DNA

 II: Single-stranded (+)sense DNA

 III: Double-stranded RNA.

 IV: Single-stranded (+)sense RNA

 V: Single-stranded (-) sense RNA.

 VI: Single-stranded (+) sense RNA

 VII: Partial double-stranded (gapped) DNA

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 I: Double-stranded DNA.

 Examples: Adenoviruses, Herpesviruses, Papillomaviruses,

Poxiviruses, T4 bacteriophage

 Some replicate in the nucleus e.g adenoviruses using cellular

proteins.

 Poxviruses replicate in the cytoplasm.

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II: Single-stranded (+)sense DNA.
Examples: phage M13, Chicken Anaemia Virus, Maize Streak Virus

Replication occurs in the nucleus, involving the formation of a (-) sense

strand, which serves as a template for (+) strand RNA and DNA synthesis

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III: Double-stranded RNA.

Examples: Reoviruses, Rotavirues

These viruses have segmented genomes.

Each genome segment is transcribed separately to produce

monocistronic mRNAs.

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 IV: Single-stranded (+)sense RNA
Examples: Hepatitis A and C, Small RNA phages, Common Cold

Viruses,

a) Polycistronic mRNA e.g. Picornaviruses; Hepatitis A.

Genome RNA = mRNA. Means naked RNA is infectious

 Translation results in the formation of a polyprotein product, which is

subsequently cleaved to form the mature proteins.

b) Complex Transcription e.g. Togaviruses. Two or more rounds of translation

are necessary to produce the genomic RNA.

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 V: Single-stranded (-)sense RNA.

Examples: Influenza viruses, Hantaviruses

Must have a virion particle, containing RNA dependent RNA polymerase.

a) Segmented e.g. Orthomyxoviruses.

First step in replication is transcription of the (-)sense RNA genome by the

virion RNA-dependent RNA polymerase to produce monocistronic

mRNAs, which also serve as the template for genome replication.

b) Non-segmented e.g. Rhabdoviruses. Replication occurs as above and

monocistronic mRNAs are produced.

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 VI: Single-stranded (+)sense RNA

 Single-stranded (+)sense RNA with DNA intermediate in

life-cycle (Retroviruses).

Examples: HIV, Avian Leukosis Virus

Genome is (+)sense but unique among viruses in that it is

DIPLOID, and does not serve as mRNA, but as a template

for reverse transcription.

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VII: Partial double-stranded (gapped) DNA
with RNA intermediate (Hepadnaviruses) Example: Hepatitis B

This group of viruses also relies on reverse transcription, but unlike the

Retroviruses, this occurs inside the virus particle on maturation.

On infection of a new cell, the first event to occur is repair of the gapped

genome to form covalently closed circle (ccc DNA) , followed by

transcription.

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Thanks

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