Since viruses are not cells, they are structurally much simpler than bacteria. An intact infectious viral particle is called a virion and consists of: a genome, a capsid, and often an envelope.
Most animal viruses also have an envelope surrounding a polyhedral or helical nucleocapsid that is typically derived from host cell membranes by a budding process and are called enveloped viruses. Specific proteins or glycoproteins on the viral surface are used to attach viruses to the surface of its host cell.
Bacteriophages are viruses that only infect bacteria. Some bacteriophages are structurally much more complex than typical nucleocapsid or enveloped viruses and may possess a unique tail structure composed of a base plate, tail fibers, and a contractile sheath (also see Figure 10.3. 1 C and Figure 10.3. 2 E ).
The viral genome is a single or segmented, circular or linear molecule of nucleic acid functioning as the genetic material of the virus. It can be single-stranded or double-stranded DNA or RNA (but almost never both), and codes for the synthesis of viral components and viral enzymes for replication. It is also becoming recognized that viruses may play a critical role in evolution of life by serving as shuttles of genetic material between other organisms.
The viral nucleic acid functions as a pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP). Binding of viral PAMPs to host cell pattern-recognition receptors (PRRs) triggers the synthesis and secretion of anti-viral cytokines called type-1 interferons that block viral replication within infected host cells.
The TLRs for viral components are found in the membranes of the phagosomes used to degrade viruses during phagocytosis.
The capsid serves to protect and introduce the genome into host cells.
All viruses contain nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA (but not both), and a protein coat, which encases the nucleic acid. Some viruses are also enclosed by an envelope of fat and protein molecules.
There are predominantly two kinds of shapes found amongst viruses: rods, or filaments, and spheres. The rod shape is due to the linear array of the nucleic acid and the protein subunits making up the capsid. The sphere shape is actually a 20-sided polygon (icosahedron).
They are closely associated with the nucleic acid and reflect its configuration, either a rod-shaped helix or a polygon-shaped sphere. The capsid has three functions: 1) it protects the nucleic acid from digestion by enzymes, 2) contains special sites on its surface that allow the virion to attach to a host cell, and 3) provides proteins that enable the virion to penetrate the host cell membrane and , in some cases, to inject the infectious nucleic acid into the cell's cytoplasm. Under the right conditions, viral RNA in a liquid suspension of protein molecules will self-assemble a capsid to become a functional and infectious virus.
Viruses are generally classified by the organisms they infect, animals, plants, or bacteria. Since viruses cannot penetrate plant cell walls, virtually all plant viruses are transmitted by insects or other organisms that feed on plants. Certain bacterial viruses, such as the T4 bacteriophage, have evolved an elaborate process of infection. The virus has a "tail" which it attaches to the bacterium surface by means of proteinaceous "pins." The tail contracts and the tail plug penetrates the cell wall and underlying membrane, injecting the viral nucleic acids into the cell. Viruses are further classified into families and genera based on three structural considerations: 1) the type and size of their nucleic acid, 2) the size and shape of the capsid, and 3) whether they have a lipid envelope surrounding the nucleocapsid (the capsid enclosed nucleic acid).
In most, the genomic RNA is termed a plus strand because it acts as messenger RNA for direct synthesis (translation) of viral protein. A few, however, have negative strands of RNA.
The virus has a "tail" which it attaches to the bacterium surface by means of proteinaceous "pins.". The tail contracts and the tail plug penetrates the cell wall and underlying membrane, injecting the viral nucleic acids into the cell.
Without a host cell, viruses cannot carry out their life-sustaining functions or reproduce. They cannot synthesize proteins, because they lack ribosomes and must use the ribosomes of their host cells to translate viral messenger RNA into viral proteins. Viruses cannot generate or store energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), but have to derive their energy, and all other metabolic functions, from the host cell. They also parasitize the cell for basic building materials, such as amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids (fats). Although viruses have been speculated as being a form of protolife, their inability to survive without living organisms makes it highly unlikely that they preceded cellular life during the Earth's early evolution. Some scientists speculate that viruses started as rogue segments of genetic code that adapted to a parasitic existence.
Following replication and sub-genomic RNA synthesis, the viral structural proteins, S, E, and M are translated and inserted into the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). These proteins move along the secretory pathway into the endoplasmic reticulum–Golgi intermediate compartment (ERGIC) [ 52, 53 ]. There, viral genomes encapsidated by N protein bud into membranes of the ERGIC containing viral structural proteins, forming mature virions [ 54 ].
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are the largest group of viruses belonging to the Nidoviralesorder, which includes Coronaviridae, Arteriviridae, Mesoniviridae, and Roniviridaefamilies. The Coronavirinaecomprise one of two subfamilies in the Coronaviridaefamily, with the other being the Torovirinae.
The M protein also binds to the nucleocapsid, and this interaction promotes the completion of virion assembly. These interactions have been mapped to the C-terminus of the endodomain of M with CTD of the N-protein [ 62 ]. However, it is unclear exactly how the nucleocapsid complexed with virion RNA traffics to the ERGIC to interact with M protein and become incorporated into the viral envelope. Another outstanding question is how the N protein selectively packages only positive-sense full-length genomes among the many different RNA species produced during infection. A packaging signal for MHV has been identified in the nsp15 coding sequence, but mutation of this signal does not appear to affect virus production, and a mechanism for how this packaging signal works has not been determined [ 22 ]. Furthermore, most coronaviruses do not contain similar sequences at this locus, indicating that packaging may be virus specific.
A fifth structural protein, the hemagglutinin-esterase (HE), is present in a subset of β-coronaviruses. The protein acts as a hemagglutinin, binds sialic acids on surface glycoproteins, and contains acetyl-esterase activity [25].
The M protein is the most abundant structural protein in the virion. It is a small (~25–30 kDa) protein with three transmembrane domains [ 11] and is thought to give the virion its shape. It has a small N-terminal glycosylated ectodomain and a much larger C-terminal endodomain that extends 6–8 nm into the viral particle [ 12 ]. Despite being co-translationally inserted in the ER membrane, most M proteins do not contain a signal sequence. Recent studies suggest the M protein exists as a dimer in the virion, and may adopt two different conformations, allowing it to promote membrane curvature as well as to bind to the nucleocapsid [ 13 ].
The 3′ UTR also contains RNA structures required for replication and synthesis of viral RNA.
These viruses are endemic in the human populations, causing 15–30 % of respiratory tract infections each year. They cause more severe disease in neonates, the elderly, and in individuals with underlying illnesses, with a greater incidence of lower respiratory tract infection in these populations.
Growth is more concentrated around subduction zone s—regions where tectonic plate s are slipping from the lithosphere into the mantle, thousands of kilometers above the core.
Just like the lithosphere, the inner core is divided into eastern and western hemisphere s. These hemispheres don’t melt evenly, and have distinct crystalline structures.
The NiFe alloy of the outer core is very hot, between 4,500° and 5,500° Celsius (8,132° and 9,932° Fahrenheit).
In general, temperatures range from about 4,400° Celsius (7,952° Fahrenheit) to about 6,000° Celsius (10,800° Fahrenheit).
The iron catastrophe allowed greater, more rapid movement of Earth’s molten, rocky material. Relatively buoyant material, such as silicate s, water, and even air, stayed close to the planet’s exterior. These materials became the early mantle and crust. Droplets of iron, nickel, and other heavy metal s gravitate d to the center of Earth, becoming the early core. This important process is called planetary differentiation.
core. Earth’s core is the very hot, very dense center of our planet. The ball-shaped core lies beneath the cool, brittle crust and the mostly-solid mantle. The core is found about 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles) below Earth’s surface, and has a radius of about 3,485 kilometers (2,165 miles).
The temperature of the inner core is far above the melting point of iron. However, unlike the outer core, the inner core is not liquid or even molten. The inner core’s intense pressure—the entire rest of the planet and its atmosphere—prevents the iron from melting. The pressure and density are simply too great for the iron atoms to move into a liquid state. Because of this unusual set of circumstances, some geophysicists prefer to interpret the inner core not as a solid, but as a plasma behaving as a solid.
Your body has a two-line defence system against pathogens (germs) that make you sick. Pathogens include bacteria, viruses, toxins, parasites and fungi. Microorganisms that live all over your skin can’t get through your skin unless it’s broken.
Neutrophils. These are white blood cells that can find, kill and ingest pathogens seeking an entrance into the body. You may now like to read this article The body's second line of defence. Explore topics. Explore concepts. Citizen science.
This survey will open in a new tab and you can fill it out after your visit to the site. Yes. No. The first line of defence (or outside defence system) includes physical and chemical barriers that are always ready and prepared to defend the body from infection.