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Questions and Answers
What is a characteristic feature of poxviruses?
Which of the following poxviruses is known to be eradicated?
Which genera of the Poxviridae family infect humans?
Which type of genetic material do poxviruses possess?
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What is the primary natural host of the Monkeypox virus?
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How do poxviruses exit the host cell upon replication?
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When was the first human case of Monkeypox detected?
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What is a common method of entry for poxviruses into host cells?
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Study Notes
Poxviruses
- Large and complex viruses that infect humans and animals.
- Typically present with skin lesions.
- Transmitted through inhalation, direct contact with infected animals or humans, or contact with contaminated fomites.
- Examples: Smallpox (now eradicated), Monkeypox, Molluscum contagiosum.
Viral Characteristics
- Large and complex virions (200 nm diameter).
- Brick or oval shape.
- Enveloped (mature virions are also infectious).
- Linear, non-segmented, double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) genome, approximately 200kb long.
- Codes for over 100 polypeptides with diverse functions.
- Replicates in the cytoplasm.
Taxonomy
- Family: Poxviridae.
- Four genera (out of 22) infect humans.
- Orthopoxvirus: Variola (Smallpox), Monkeypox, Camelpox, Cowpox, Vaccinia.
- Molluscipoxvirus: Molluscum contagiosum.
- Yatapoxvirus: Tanapox.
- Parapoxvirus: Orf virus, Pseudocowpox virus.
Replication
- Replicates in the cytoplasm.
- Carries a DNA-dependent RNA polymerase for replication.
- Entry: Fusion or macropinocytosis.
- Early phase: Production of viral replication promoters.
- Intermediate phase: Production of replication enzymes.
- Late phase: Production of structural proteins.
- Exit: Lysis, exocytosis, and extrusion (actin tail assembly).
Monkeypox Virus
- Belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus (same family as Smallpox).
- First identified in 1958 in monkeys.
- Natural host is most likely rodents.
- First human case detected in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1970.
- Endemic in Central and West Africa.
- Few isolated cases outside Africa until the 2022 outbreak, which resulted in thousands of cases globally.
Monkeypox Virus Distribution
- As of November 2022, there were over 77,000 cases of Monkeypox globally.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of poxviruses, large and complex viruses that infect humans and animals. Learn about their transmission, characteristics, taxonomic classification, and the diseases they cause, including smallpox and monkeypox. This quiz will enhance your understanding of these important viral pathogens.
