Characteristics of a Virus
Viruses are not made out of cells, they can't keep themselves in a stable state, they don't grow, and they can't make their own energy. Therefore, they are ______?
What is acellular?
The protein shell surrounding the viral genome
What is a capsid?
This is the most common portal of entry for viruses like Influenza & the common cold.
What is the respiratory tract?
This immune response is characterized by the activation of specific immune cells (T-cells and B-cells), the production of antibodies, and the ability of memory.
What is Adaptive Immunity?
These receptors, found on immune cells like macrophages and dendritic cells, recognize pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), triggering innate immune responses.
What are PRRs - pattern recognition receptors
This is the type of genetic material found in viruses.
What is DNA & RNA?
Viruses acquire their envolope from this part of the host cell.
What is the cell membrane?
During this stage, the viral genome is uncoated and released into the host cell's cytoplasm or nucleus for replication and transcription.
What is uncoating?
Lymphocytes make up __% of total WBCs?
What is 20-40%?
These small proteins act as signaling molecules that help coordinate the immune response by promoting inflammation, activating immune cells, and regulating immune functions.
What is cytokines - interleukins/interferons?
Viruses that infect bacteria
What are bacteriophages?
Some viruses have this structure that includes a head, tail, and tail fibers?
What is a complex virus?
These molecules on the surface of host cells, such as CD4 or ACE2, serve as attachment points for viruses.
What are host cell receptors and viral attachment proteins?
These cells and structures are key players in Innate Immunity.
What are neutrophils, macrophages, dendritic cells, inflammation, skin, mucosal barriers?
After encountering an antigen presented by MHC molecules on an antigen-presenting cell (APC), these cells undergo activation, differentiate into effector cells and attack the pathogen.
What are T-cells?
A virus's ability to infect only specific types of cells/species
What is host specificity/tropism range?
Viral spike proteins are made of these biological macromolecules and are often modified with these sugar molecules.
What are proteins and carbohydrates?
This type of virus has an RNA genome and replicates by converting its RNA into DNA through the action of reverse transcriptase before integrating into the host genome.
What is a retrovirus?
Explain Hematopoiesis.
What is the production and differentiation of all blood cells (RBCs, WBCs, platelets) from stem cells in the bone marrow?
These cells, including dendritic cells, macrophages, and B-cells, capture, process, and present antigens to T-cells to initiate adaptive immune responses.
What are APCs - antigen presenting cells?
Viruses that cause their host cells to burst upon release use this type of replication cycle.
What is the lytic cycle?
A virion differs from other viral forms because of this, meaning it includes all structural components needed for infection, including this specific interaction-ready feature.
What is fuly infectious/mature and what are functional surface proteins?
These infectious agents are composed solely of misfolded proteins and are responsible for neurodegenerative diseases, such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and mad cow disease.
What are prions?
List the WBCs that are granulocytes and their function in the body.
What are neutrophils (first responders to scene & phagocytosis), eosinophils (defense against parasites & allergic reactions), basophils (release histamine & other inflammatory chemicals, helping the body's immune response)?
This group of proteins work together to enhance the immune response. There are 3 main pathways:
1. Classical - when antibodies bound to a pathogen bind to the C1 complex, leading to a cascade that activates the proteins to destroy the pathogen.
2. Lectin - when mannose-binding lectin (MBL) binds to specific sugar residues on the surface of pathogens, activating the proteins in a similar manner to the classical pathway.
3. Alternative Pathway - This pathway is continuously active at low levels (also called the tick-over mechanism) and is spontaneously activated by the presence of pathogen surfaces, leading to the activation
What is the complement system?