Mercado, Alyssa Marie R.

NU – 103
DEOXY RIBOVIRUS AND RIBOVIRUS

DEOXYRIBOVIRUS – A VIRUS THAT CONTAINS DNA

1. POXVIRUS - Poxviruses are brick-shaped (240 nm by 300 nm) and
have a complex internal structure including a double-stranded DNA
genome (130–260 kb) and associated enzymes. Naturally released
virions have an additional outer membrane not found on infective
virions extracted artificially from infected cells. It has variola virus
which is the causative agent of smallpox and vaccinia virus which is
the causative agent of cowpox.

2. HUMAN HERPES VIRUS (HHV) - Herpesviruses have a unique four-layered structure: a core
containing the large, double-stranded DNA genome is enclosed by
an icosapentahedral capsid which is composed of
capsomeres. Herpesviruses are divided into three groups: The α
herpesviruses, herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2, and varicella-
zoster virus, have a short replicative cycle, induce cytopathology in
monolayer cell cultures, and have a broad host range; β
herpesviruses, cytomegalovirus, and human herpesviruses 6 and 7,
with a long replicative cycle and restricted host range; and γ
herpesviruses, Epstein-Barr virus and human herpesvirus 8, with a
very restricted host range.

3. HEPADNAVIRUS – Hepadnavirus belongs to the family Hepadnaviridae. They have small,

enveloped, spherical virions (virus particles) that are about 40–48
nm in diameter. There are two recognized genera of
hepadnavirus: Orthohepadnavirus and Avihepadnavirus. The
former includes hepatitis B viruses that have been isolated
from mammals, including humans, woodchucks, ground squirrels,
Arctic squirrels, and woolly monkeys. The second
genus, Avihepadnavirus, consists of hepatitis B viruses that
infect birds, including ducks, herons, cranes, and storks. 

4. ADENOVIRUS - Adenovirus is a large virus, composed of a

complex protein capsid surrounding its DNA genome and core
proteins. The capsid is icosahedral: the faces are composed of
240 hexons, each composed of three identical proteins, and 12
pentons sit on the vertices, each composed of five protein
chains. A long fiber extends from each vertex, composed of
 three identical chains that form a knob at the end. Adenoviruses are a group of viruses that infect the
mucous membranes of humans. Depending on the serotypes of virus, they may cause respiratory
illness and also diarrhea, eye infection and rashes. The infection can occur all year round.

5. PAPOVAVIRUS – Papovavirus are about 45 nm in diameter. The outer surface of the capsid is
icosahedral and is composed of 72 capsomeres. The
family Papovaviridae includes two
genera, Papillomavirus and Polyomavirus. Papillomaviruses are
naturally tumorigenic, causing papillomas (warts), which occur
in many different species. JC polyomavirus, a member of
the papovavirus family, is the causative agent of  progressive
multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML).

RIBOVIRUS – A VIRUS THAT CONTAINS RNA

1. ORTHOMYXOVIRUS - Influenza viruses are spherical or

filamentous enveloped particles 80 to 120 nm in diameter. The
helically symmetric nucleocapsid consists of a nucleoprotein and a
multipartite genome of single-stranded antisense RNA in seven or
eight segments. The envelope carries a hemagglutinin attachment
protein and a neuraminidase.The orthomyxoviruses (influenza
viruses) constitute the genus Orthomyxovirus, which consists of
three types (species): A, B, and C. These viruses cause influenza, an
acute respiratory disease with prominent systemic symptoms. Type
A viruses cause periodic worldwide epidemics (pandemics); both
types A and B cause recurring regional and local epidemics.

2. PARAMYXOVIRUS – All paramyxoviruses are enveloped

particles 150 to 300 nm in diameter. The tube-like, helically
symmetrical nucleocapsid contains a monopartite, single-
stranded, negative-sense RNA genome and an RNA-directed
RNA polymerase. The nucleocapsid associates with the matrix
protein (M) at the base of a double-layered lipid envelope. The
spikes on the envelope contain two glycoproteins, a viral
attachment protein, and a fusion protein. Paramyxovirus are
predominantly responsible for acute respiratory diseases and are
usually transmitted by airborne droplets. The paramyxoviruses
include the agents of mumps, measles (rubeola), RSV
(respiratory syncytial virus), Newcastle disease, and
parainfluenza.
3. PICORNAVIRUS - The picornavirus virion is an icosahedral,
nonenveloped, small (22 to 30 nm) particle. The capsid proteins
encase a sense RNA strand consisting of approximately 7,500
nucleotides. The RNA carries a covalently bound noncapsid
viral protein (VPg) at its 5′ end and a polyadenylated tail at its 3′
end. The family includes agents that are responsible for a variety
of human and animal diseases, for example, poliomyelitis, the
common cold, hepatitis A, foot-and-mouth disease, and many
more.

4. RHABDOVIRUS - The virus particle is enveloped in a fatty

membrane; is bullet-shaped, 70 by 180 nm and contains a
single helical strand of ribonucleic acid (RNA). often present in
the salivary glands of rabid animals and is excreted in
the saliva; thus, the bite of the infected animal introduces the
virus into a fresh wound. The disease develops most often
between four and six weeks after infection, but the incubation
period may vary from 10 days to eight months.

5. TOGAVIRUS / ARBOVIRUS -  Togavirus virions are small

(70–80 nm), enveloped, icosahedral capsid inside.
Togavirus virion structure stands out in that not only the capsid but
also the envelope has an icosahedral symmetric structure. Rubella
virus is the only member of togavirus family that causes significant
disease in human—German measles. With the exception of rubella,
most togaviruses exist in well-defined geographical areas where
mosquito vectors and host species determine the extent of virus
survival and spread to humans. Important zoonotic pathogens
include the three equine encephalitis viruses of the
Americas. Chikungunya virus is now widely recognized as a significant cause of febrile illness
accompanied by arthralgia.

6. FLAVIVIRUS - Flavivirus, any virus belonging to the family

Flaviviridae. Flaviviruses have enveloped and
spherical virions (virus particles) that are between 40 and 60 nm in
diameter. Flaviviridae contains three
genera: Flavivirus, Hepacivirus, and Pestivirus. Species of
Flaviviridae are transmitted by either insects or arachnids and
cause severe diseases such as yellow fever, dengue, tick-
borne encephalitis, and Japanese B encephalitis. Well-
characterized species of this family are the pestivirus Classical
swine fever virus, the flavivirus Yellow fever virus, and the hepacivirus of humans Hepatitis C virus.
7. BUNYAVIRUS - Bunyaviruses are spherical, enveloped particles 90
to 100 nm in diameter. They contain three segments of antisense (and
sometimes ambisense) single-stranded RNA combined with
nucleoprotein. Two external glycoproteins form surface projections.
A virus-encoded transcriptase is present in the virion. Bunyaviruses
cause fevers sometimes with rash. In addition, Crimean-Congo
hemorrhagic fever virus may cause hemorrhage; Rift Valley fever
virus may cause hemorrhagic hepatitis, encephalitis, or blindness; La
Crosse virus and related viruses may cause encephalitis; and Hantaan
virus and related viruses may cause hemorrhage and renal failure or the hantavirus pulmonary
syndrome.

8. CORONAVIRUS - Spherical or pleomorphic enveloped

particles containing single-stranded (positive-sense) RNA
associated with a nucleoprotein within a capsid comprised of
matrix protein. The envelope bears club-shaped glycoprotein
projections. Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of
viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to
more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS-CoV). A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has not been previously
identified in humans.

9. DELTAVIRUS - Virions of HDV are approximately spherical, with an

average diameter of 36–43 nm and lack visible surface projections.
Virions have an outer envelope containing lipid and all three envelope
proteins of the co-infecting helper human HBV, a member of
the Hepadnaviridae family; woodchuck hepatitis virus can also act as a
helper in laboratory infection of woodchucks. Hepatitis delta virus
(HDV), the only member of the only species (Hepatitis delta virus) in
the genus Deltavirus, is a unique human pathogen. Hepatitis delta virus
(HDV) is a small, defective RNA virus that can infect only individuals
who have hepatitis B virus (HBV).

10. CALICIVIRUS - All of the caliciviruses are single-stranded RNA,

nonenveloped viruses. Their genetic information is encoded in a
single strand of RNA and they lack an envelope. The hepatitis
E virus, once considered a calicivirus, now belongs to an
unassigned (or floating) genus called the hepatitis E-like viruses.
11. RETROVIRUS - All retroviruses have an outer
envelope of lipid and viral proteins; the envelope
encloses the core, consisting of other viral proteins,
within which lie two molecules of viral RNA (positive
single-stranded) and the enzyme reverse transcriptase,
an RNA-dependent DNA polymerase. A retrovirus is a
type of virus that uses RNA as its genetic material.
After infecting a cell, a retrovirus uses an enzyme
called reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into
DNA. The retrovirus then integrates its viral DNA into the DNA of the host cell, which allows the
retrovirus to replicate. HIV, the virus that causes AIDS, is a retrovirus.

12. FILOVIRIDAE -  Filovirus virions (complete viral

particles) may appear in several shapes, a biological
features called pleomorphism. These shapes include
long, sometimes branched filaments, as well as shorter
filaments shaped like a “6”, a “U”, or a circle. Viral
filaments may measure up to 14,000 nanometers in
length, have a uniform diameter of 80 nanometers, and
are enveloped in a lipid (fatty) membrane. Each virion
contains one molecule of single-stranded, negative-sense
RNA. Filoviruses belong to a virus family
called Filoviridae and can cause severe hemorrhagic
fever in humans and nonhuman primates. So far, three
genera of this virus family have been identified: Cuevavirus, Marburgvirus and Ebolavirus. Ebola,
Sudan, Taï Forest, and Bundibugyo viruses are known to cause disease in people.