Acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) case study:
1981; LA, Ca; 5 men (29-36yo)
Hospitalized for pneumonia from Pneumocystis carinii (fungus); rare in healthy people
The men die
First documentation of AIDS (caused by HIV)
HIV infects immune system & causes it to decline so opportunistic pathogens can harm
Today, 36.9mill people live with HIV
H5N1 Influenza virus case study:
Hong Kong; 3yo boy; sick poultry
Develops fever, sore throat, cough
Dies of acute respiratory distress syndrome (inflamed his lungs)
Previously found in birds only
New species (humans) never exposed to this virus before so no immunity built up
18 individuals infected (had direct contact with chickens at open-air markets)
20% of chick population infected (30% death rate)
- Government killed the rest (1.5mill)
Norwalk virus case study:
Cruise ship from Washington to Florida; ~30% passengers first voyage; 305 passengers next 3 voyages
Patients got acute gastroenteritis (stomach illness)
Cruise ship was cleaned after 1st voyage
Had Norwalk virus (easily transmitted through food, water, air particles & don’t need many particles))
Need bleach to remove
Each year ~20mill cases occur in US
Reasons to study viruses:
They are everywhere (present wherever there is life)
~3,000 documented viruses that infect living organisms
Thousands of strains & isolates within each species
Where are viruses found?
Air Ocean Soil Streams Ponds
What’s the difference between virus & virion?
Virion = the infectious virus package that is assembled; virus particle; extracellular form of the virus; released between cells Virus = Biological entity in all its stages; the general characteristics that differentiate it from another infectious entry
How many virions are there?
10^31 total virions (10x more than bacteria)
Millions created & released in each cell
What was one of the first major epidemics of viruses?
Poliovirus became more epidemic with growth/urbanization of cities
New York City; 1916
- 9,000 cases
- 2,343 deaths
1950s
- 20,000 cases of paralytic polio/year until 1955 (first polio vaccine)
When was the first polio vaccine?
1955
When was the first major pandemic?
1918 (originated in US)
Killed 20-50mill
Influenza strain (sever strain of influenza)
What is the most effective way to prevent viruses/pandemics?
Surveillance
Vaccination
Hershey & Chase’s experiment overview:
Verified that DNA is the molecule that encodes genetic information
Location: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, Long Island
Alfred D. Hershey & Martha Chase performed research with phage T2 (infects E. coli)
T2 attaches to E. coli cells & injects chemicals to create more T2
Tested if chemicals were composed of DNA or proteins
What is a bacteriophage?
Viruses that infect bacteria
Bacteriophage means “bactera eater”
How did Hershey & Chase’s experiment work?
Used radioactive phosphorus (32P) & radioactive sulfur (35S) isotypes
Watson & Crick experiment
1953
Presented double-helix model of DNA structure
James Watson & Francis Crick
What is phage therapy?
100 years ago
Felix d’Herelle (coined term bacteriophages)
Used bacteriophages to treat bacterial infections before antibiotics existed
- Declined after antibiotics then increased due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria
What is gene therapy?
Delivery of DNA into cells to compensate for defective genes
Viruses are engineered to deliver a normal copy of the defective human gene
- Potential to cure genetic diseases, but procedural obstacles occur
What is virology?
The study of viruses, how they replicated, and how they cause disease
What are the 5 criteria of a living organism?
What criteria for life do viruses share?
Why is quick viral mutation important?
Antiviral drugs become absolete (think yearly flue vaccine)
Great model for studying & observing evolutionary change
What do viruses use instead of metabolism?
Host cells energy & machinery to synthesize new virus particles
What is the basics of virus replication?
Virus enters a cell
Completely disassembles
Viral nucleic acid encodes the instructions & host cells machinery is used to make virions
Why don’t viruses have homeostasis?
They are inert particles
Are unable to compensate for changes in their external environment