I.

Viruses

Aka: HIV (Human immunodeficiency

virus), Measles, Flu, Polio, Mumps,
Shingles, Ebola, Zika, SARS-CoV-2 &
the list goes on… 1
 What is SARS-CoV-2?

Computer model from the

Electron micrograph image from the
Centers for Disease Control
National Institute of Allergy and
(CDC)
Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Notice the spike proteins, red in the left photo, that

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give the virus its name. Corona Virus.
SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, isolated from a patient
CREDIT:NIAID

In this enlarged image you can clearly see the outer spike
glycoproteins that create the “corona” or crown. Image 3
created by cryogenic TEM.
 What is SARS-CoV-2?
• S – Severe
• A – Acute
• R – Respiratory
• S – Syndrome

• Co – Corona
• V – Virus Computer model image from Centers for Disease Control
(CDC)

• 2 – Genetically very similar to first

discovered SARS-CoV, so it was named 4
SARS-CoV-2
 The virus SARS-CoV-2 causes
Corona Virus Disease 2019 => COVID-19

https://www.news-medical.net/news/20201026/Research-uncovers-SARS-CoV-2-viral-traits-critical-for-the-virus-in-human-airways.aspx

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The Coronavirus Explained & What You Should Do

Published: March 19, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtN-goy9VOY&t=58s 6
What does it mean to “Flatten the Curve”
and why is that important?

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 Here the curve is flattened

Capacity of
heath care system

By flattening the curve, you do not overwhelm the heath care

system. More healthcare workers stay well, and you do not
have to make tragic decisions about who lives and who dies
because you don’t have the capacity (equipment and people)
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to care for everyone.
• How were we told to flatten the curve?
– Shut down schools.
– Close bars and restaurants.
– Close movie theaters.
– Wear masks, wash hands, social
distance
– Travel out of home only when
necessary.

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 SARS-CoV-2 causes
Corona Virus Disease 2019 => COVID-19

Published: Mar 28, 2020 10

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5DGwOJXSxqg
Mr. Smith, I have questions about SARS-CoV-2 and
COVID-19 where can I go to get reliable information?

Go here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-
health/need-to-know.html

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A. Corona viruses
1. More likely to cause pandemics
because of their capacity to change
and evolve.
2. Belong to an infamous category of
viruses, the single-stranded RNA
viruses. E.g.: Influenzas, Ebola, rabies,
measles, Nipah, hantaviruses.
3. Infamous because the single-stranded
RNA genome is subject to frequent
mutations as it replicates.
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4. Have no “Proofreading” when they replicate,
so they mutate readily. Mutations provide a
rich variation for evolution to act on.
5. Good news: Corona Viruses evolve slowly,
for an RNA virus, because there is a
proofreading enzyme to correct mutations.
6. Bad news: They are capable of genetic
recombination. Two strains of corona virus
infecting the same cell can swap sections of
their genomes and create a third virus.
Possibly how SARS-CoV-2 was created.

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7. SARS-CoV-2 is capable of further
evolution creating variants.
8. Because of what I have told you, the
phrase “novel corona virus” made
disease scientists shudder around the
world in late 2019.
9. Human corona viruses were first
identified in the mid-1960’s.

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B. Corona virus types
1. There are 7 types of corona viruses
that infect humans.
a. Four ( 229E, NL63, OC43, & HKU1)
commonly infect people around the
world and only cause colds.
b. Three have infected animals and
jumped to humans. We call that a
zoonotic virus.
c. We call the diseases from zoonotic
viruses a “Spillover” disease. E.g.:
HIV, Ebola, Zika, or Nipah. 15
2. The 3 types that cause human disease:
a. MERS-CoV: Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome Coronavirus. Causes the
disease MERS. Reported 2012 in
Saudi Arabia. 35% mortality!
b. SARS-CoV: Sever Acute Respiratory
Syndrome. Causes the disease
SARS. Reported 2003. 11% mortality.
c. SARS-CoV-2: Causes the disease
COVID-19. Reported 2019. Least
lethal of the three, BUT most HIGHLY
transmissible of them.
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What is a coronavirus? - Elizabeth Cox

Published May 14, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9tTi-CDjDU 17
Cell Size and Scale – Learn Genetics

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19
C. What is a Virus?
1. Viruses are particles of
nucleic acid, protein,
and in some cases,
lipids.
2. Two part structure:
a. Nucleic acid (DNA or
RNA) core—contains
instructions for
making new virus
copies
b. surrounded by a
protein coat (capsid) 20
 3. Are viruses alive?
• What do you think? Write down as
many reasons as you can think of.

a.Viruses are not “living”. They replicate

by infecting living cells, & “jacking”
that cell’s reproduction system.
b.Viruses cannot “survive” without a
host cell

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4. Do viruses have a typical shape?

NO!
They
Differ
Widely
In shape
&
structure

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5. Capsid proteins bind to receptors
on the cell surface and “trick” the cell
into allowing it inside.

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6. Viruses that infect bacteria are
called bacteriophages.

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D. Viral Life Cycles – Lytic
Cycle (page 481)
STAGES:
1. Attachment -virus attaches itself
to the receptor site of host cell
using the tail fibers.

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2. Injection -virus uses enzymes to
dissolve the cell wall of host and its
nucleic acid is injected into the host
cell.

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3. Replication - The viral nucleic acid
is replicated and produces
proteins that form new viral
enzymes and capsids.

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3. Replication Continued
a. Viruses that contain RNA as their genetic
information are called: Retroviruses.

b. Retroviruses have a special enzyme

called reverse transcriptase. This enzyme
makes a DNA copy of their RNA before
replication begins. 28
4. Assembly - Viral parts are put
together to form new complete
viral units.

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5. Lysis (release)- New viruses
break out of host cell, killing it,
and attack new cells.

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Bacteriophage T4 Virus - 3D Animation

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFXuxGuT7H8
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 E. Lysogenic Cycle (pg 481)
1. Attachment - Same as Lytic
2. Injection- Same as Lytic

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3. Splicing - The viral DNA (called a
prophage) is spliced (inserted) into
the DNA of the host.
Viral DNA

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 Lysogenic Cycle (cont)
Notice Viral DNA
Is replicated each time
the cell replicates

4. Cellular Duplication - During normal cell

division the viral DNA is also duplicated
and passed on with the cell’s own DNA.
This can happen for many generations.
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5. Activation - An environmental stress
stimulates the activation of the viral DNA
and stages 3-5 of the lytic cycle begin

Herpes Simplex Virus

HSV-1 causes cold
sores. Stays for life.
HSV-2 generally 35
causes genital sores
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qulwy6ow-Wc
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F. Harmful Effects of viruses
1. Cause diseases and disorders by
disrupting the bodies normal
equilibrium (balance).
2. Viral Diseases:
Rabies, mumps, measles, AIDS
(Acquired immune deficiency
syndrome), chickenpox, shingles,
influenza, polio, common cold,
conjuctivitis (pink eye), warts, hepatitis
A, B, & C, mononucleosis, & many more 37
3. Viral diseases can be prevented with
a vaccine (a weakened or killed
pathogen). Vaccines can prompt the
body to produce immunity.

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CBS Los Angeles Published on Jan 4, 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF3WxIkbXW0&t=87s
39
F. Harmful Effects of viruses
Mumps

PAINFUL swelling of parotid salivary glands

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 Measles

Causes a total-body skin rash and flu-

like symptoms, including a fever,
cough, and runny nose.
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 Shingles

Shingles is caused by the same virus that causes

chickenpox. Anyone who's had chickenpox may
develop shingles. If your immune system doesn't
destroy the entire virus during the initial
infection, the remaining virus can enter your 42
nervous system and lie hidden for years.
Polio

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Conquering the polio epidemic

Published May 4, 2020

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HIIIYx_1Mrg 44
G. Why viruses are not living
1. Not made of cells.
2. Can’t reproduce on their own.
3. Can’t manufacture ATP (Have no
metabolism).

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H. We are only beginning to understand
viruses
1. Some retroviruses infect reproductive
cells.
2. They insert their DNA into the
heritable genome of the host.
3. These inserted stretches are called
“endogenous” (internalized)
retroviruses.

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4. When incorporated into human
genomes they are knows as human
endogenous retroviruses (HERV’s)
5. Important: 8% of the human genome
consists of this viral DNA patched
into our DNA during evolution.
6. Some functions, such as internalized
pregnancies, would not be possible
without these HERV’s.
7. One such viral gene that allows this
is syncytin-2. Just recently
discovered.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FqlTslU22s
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