1

Introduction to Viruses

Recent Viral Outbreaks

Ebola 2014, Guinnea, etc
H1N1 Influenza A, 2009
Pandemic, Mexico
Epicenter
SARS 20022003
Pandemic
Foot and Mouth Disease,
2001, United Kingdom
Hantavirus: Four Corners
Disease, 1993
West Nile Virus, 1999,
New York City
Norovirus Outbreaks
Wesley Bocxe/Photo Researchers, Inc.
Barry Batchelor/PA Photos/Landov

Viral Impact on the Environment, Research and

Disease
Viruses impact all
forms of life.
There are beneficial
roles of viruses in life.

Oliver Meckes/E.O.S./MPI Tubingen/Photo Researchers, Inc.

Viruses free up organic matter so that

new life can be generated.
Aquatic
ecosystems
Bacteriophag
es are
abundant in
fresh and
saltwater
Bacteriophag
es free up
organic
matter so
that new life

Lytic Bacteriophages and Nutrient Cycling

Hershey-Chase
Blender
Experiment

Figure 01.05: Diagram

depicting the design of Alfred
Hershey and Martha Chases
experiment. It provided
evidence that DNA was
associated with the genetic
material of the
bacteriophage.

More beneficial impacts of viruses

Gene therapy using viruses to

deliver genes to treat genetic
diseases
Vaccine development
Prevent infectious diseases

Courtesy of James Hicks/CDC

Viruses and Cancer

Cervical cancer (papillomaviruses)
Liver cancer (hepatitis B and C viruses)

1.2 Early Virus Studies

Viruses are small (nm in size)

1.2 Early Virus Studies

Definition of a virus
Agents that can pass through filters that
trap most known bacteria.

Viruses were first distinguished from

other microorganisms by filtration
19th century
bacteriological techniques identified causative
agents of many diseases
Infectious agent

filter

sterile

1892 Dimitri Iwanowski

Studying tobacco mosaic disease
Sap from infected tobacco plant

filter

Still caused disease

Filterable agent
Iwanowski had doubts

1898 Martinus Beijerinick

Repeated Iwanowskis experiment
Called the filterable agent a VIRUS

Defined viruses as:

Infectious agents
Smaller than bacteria
Unable to multiply outside a living cell

Use of electron microscope to visualize

viruses

1939 First
Visualization of
viruses by EM
(TMV)

Courtesy of Dr. Frederick Murphy/CDC

 Completely dependent upon host cell

Viruses possess receptor-binding proteins
Viral genome consists of DNA or RNA

 Genome may be
infectious

Figure 01.09A: Poliovirus RNA is infectious!

Infectious particles of poliovirus can be
produced even if only the genetic material
(RNA) of the virus is introduced into cells
growing in a culture dish.
Adapted from Flint, S.J., et al. Principles of Virology: Molecular Biology,
Pathogenesis, and Control of Animal Viruses, Second Edition. ASM Press, 2003.

Retroviruses insert their

genome into cellular
chromosomes

Figure 01.09B: Retroviruses can persist in cells by integrating their own DNA
(or a copy of their RNA) into the genome of the host cell. The integrated viral
genome is called a provirus.
Adapted from Flint, S.J., et al. Principles of Virology: Molecular Biology,
Pathogenesis, and Control of Animal Viruses, Second Edition. ASM Press, 2003.

Characteristics of Viruses
Small (nm in size)
Pass through filters that retain bacteria
Completely dependent on the host cell
Contain one species of nucleic acid
Contain receptor-binding proteins
Genome may be infectious
Some viruses can persist by integrating their genome
into the cellular chromosom

Theories of Viral Origin

Influenza viruses fall from outer space?
Two theories emerged
1. Viruses were precursers of cells
2. Viruses came from cells that had degenerated

LUCA (Last Universal Common Ancestor)

Theories of Viral Origin

Many virus groups
dont share any
common genes so
probably dont have
a common origin

Hydrothermal origin hypothesis

Figure 01.12: Model of the

evolution of life and current viral
genomics.

1.3 Viruses in History: Great Epidemics

Influenza
Poliomyelitis
Acquired
Immunodeficiency
Syndrome (AIDS)

Courtesy of Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and

Museum

National Archives and Records Administration