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What are viruses primarily classified based on?
What are viruses primarily classified based on?
What is a common method used to study the structure of viruses?
What is a common method used to study the structure of viruses?
Which classification does not apply when categorizing viruses?
Which classification does not apply when categorizing viruses?
What are the two main types of nucleic acids viruses can have?
What are the two main types of nucleic acids viruses can have?
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Which virus type is classified as a reverse-transcribing virus?
Which virus type is classified as a reverse-transcribing virus?
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What is the size range of most viruses?
What is the size range of most viruses?
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How many viruses were listed in the latest report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses?
How many viruses were listed in the latest report by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses?
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Which classification of RNA viruses is the least common?
Which classification of RNA viruses is the least common?
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What are viroids?
What are viroids?
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Which of the following is considered a prion?
Which of the following is considered a prion?
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Which hypothesis suggests that viruses arose from non-living matter?
Which hypothesis suggests that viruses arose from non-living matter?
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What distinguishes viruses from living organisms?
What distinguishes viruses from living organisms?
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What are oncoviruses known to contribute to?
What are oncoviruses known to contribute to?
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Which disease is NOT caused by a virus?
Which disease is NOT caused by a virus?
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Which of the following best describes satellite viruses?
Which of the following best describes satellite viruses?
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Where do viruses typically evolve?
Where do viruses typically evolve?
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Which of the following is a major cause of cervical cancer?
Which of the following is a major cause of cervical cancer?
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What is the term used to describe the study of how viruses cause disease?
What is the term used to describe the study of how viruses cause disease?
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What do vaccinations primarily stimulate in order to protect against viral diseases?
What do vaccinations primarily stimulate in order to protect against viral diseases?
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What is the role of T cells in the immune response to viruses?
What is the role of T cells in the immune response to viruses?
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What is the term for the measure of how effectively a virus causes disease?
What is the term for the measure of how effectively a virus causes disease?
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What mechanism found in eukaryotes likely evolved as a defense against viruses?
What mechanism found in eukaryotes likely evolved as a defense against viruses?
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Which of the following diseases is NOT associated with prions?
Which of the following diseases is NOT associated with prions?
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Why do lethal viral diseases present a paradox for the virus?
Why do lethal viral diseases present a paradox for the virus?
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What is believed to cause lethal viral diseases to jump from one species to another?
What is believed to cause lethal viral diseases to jump from one species to another?
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What was the first antiviral drug developed for treating viral diseases?
What was the first antiviral drug developed for treating viral diseases?
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Why are bacteriophages significant in the field of molecular biology?
Why are bacteriophages significant in the field of molecular biology?
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Which method is commonly used today for growing animal viruses?
Which method is commonly used today for growing animal viruses?
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What is a major challenge faced in viral gene therapy?
What is a major challenge faced in viral gene therapy?
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What are oncolytic viruses primarily used for?
What are oncolytic viruses primarily used for?
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What role do modified retroviruses play in gene therapy?
What role do modified retroviruses play in gene therapy?
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Which of the following statements about phage therapy is correct?
Which of the following statements about phage therapy is correct?
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Study Notes
Virology
- Virology is the study of viruses, submicroscopic parasitic particles with genetic material in a protein coat.
- It examines viral structure, classification, evolution, infection methods, host cell exploitation for reproduction, interactions with host physiology and immunity, diseases caused, isolation and culture techniques, and applications in research and therapy.
- It's a subfield of microbiology or medicine.
Virus Structure and Classification
- Virus classification is a major branch of virology.
- Viruses are classified by the host cell they infect (animal, plant, fungal, bacteriophages).
- Viruses can have different shapes, including helices and icosahedrons, and may or may not have a lipid envelope.
- Sizes range from 30 nm to 450 nm, making them invisible with light microscopes.
- Electron microscopy, NMR, and X-ray crystallography are used to study their structure.
- Viruses are further classified based on the type of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) and their replication method.
Viral Diseases and Host Defenses
- Viral diseases cause significant health problems (common cold, influenza, rabies, measles, diarrhea, hepatitis, dengue, yellow fever, polio, smallpox, AIDS, herpes simplex.
- Some viruses contribute to cancer development, such as HPV and cervical cancer, and hepatitis B and C linked to liver cancer.
- Viruses are not alive and do not have metabolism, move on their own or have independent reproduction.
- They need host cells to reproduce and the question of whether they are alive or not is defined by their features.
Molecular Biology Research and Viral Therapy
- Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are useful as research tools.
- They are used for horizontal gene transfer, understanding genetic code, ribosome function, constructing recombinant DNA and genetic libraries.
- Viral genes and promoters are currently employed in molecular biology research.
- Phage Therapy utilizes bacteriophages to combat bacterial infections.
- Oncolytic viruses preferentially target and infect cancer cells. Efforts are ongoing for potential use in viral therapy methods to combat cancer.
Other applications of Viruses
- Viruses are being employed in gene therapy for genetic diseases and in nanotechnology for various applications.
- Modified retroviruses are used to transfer genes into host cells.
- Viruses are applied to introduce new genes in hosts for transformation or transfection for gene therapy, but the immune system rejection of viruses often is a major problem during the process.
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Description
Explore the fascinating world of virology with this quiz focusing on virus structure and classification. Understand the intricate details of viral shapes, sizes, and their classification based on host types and nucleic acid. This quiz will test your knowledge on the fundamental concepts and techniques used in virology.
