MicrobiologyLesson 1 of 2 in the course Acellular Pathogens

Viral Replication, Persistence, Growth, and Phage-Mediated Gene Transfer

5 flashcards · 5 quiz questions · 5 match pairs · 5 fill-in sentences · English

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Summary

Viruses depend on host cells to reproduce because they lack the full set of enzymes and cellular machinery needed for independent replication. This lesson introduces the basic stages of viral replication and compares the lytic and lysogenic cycles of bacteriophages.

A virus carries genetic information in a DNA or RNA genome surrounded by a protein capsid, sometimes with an additional envelope. Viruses do not reproduce or carry out metabolism independently. Instead, they enter a host cell and use its resources to make viral genomes and proteins, which are assembled into new virus particles called virions.

All flashcards

What is a virion?
A complete virus particle containing a viral genome within a capsid, sometimes with an envelope.
What are the five stages of the bacteriophage lytic cycle?
Attachment, penetration, biosynthesis, maturation, and release.
What is a prophage?
A phage genome integrated into a bacterial chromosome during lysogeny.
What is generalized transduction?
Transfer of bacterial DNA fragments that may come from many chromosome regions.
What is burst size?
The number of virions released per infected cell.

Quiz questions

  1. Why do viruses depend on host cells to reproduce?Answer: They lack the complete cellular machinery and enzymes needed for independent reproduction.
  2. How can a negative-sense single-stranded RNA virus make RNA that host ribosomes can translate?Answer: Its RNA-dependent RNA polymerase makes a complementary positive-sense RNA strand.
  3. What does tissue tropism describe for a virus?Answer: Its preference for infecting particular cell types or tissues.
  4. What is a provirus in retroviral replication?Answer: Viral DNA integrated into the host cell's chromosome.
  5. Which statement best distinguishes latent from chronic viral infection?Answer: Latency involves dormancy or very low activity; chronic infection involves long-term ongoing or recurring activity.

Based on Microbiology by Nina Parker, Mark Schneegurt, Anh-Hue Thi Tu, Philip Lister, Brian M. Forster (OpenStax), licensed CC BY 4.0. Adapted into a summary, flashcards and quizzes.

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