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Questions and Answers
What is the defining feature of viroids?
What is the defining feature of viroids?
How is the shape and size of viral particles most effectively determined?
How is the shape and size of viral particles most effectively determined?
Which virus type has 20 faces, each in the shape of an equilateral triangle?
Which virus type has 20 faces, each in the shape of an equilateral triangle?
What is the main component of the virus core?
What is the main component of the virus core?
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Which type of viruses can be either enveloped or naked?
Which type of viruses can be either enveloped or naked?
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What mediates the interaction between the viral nucleocapsid proteins and the envelope proteins?
What mediates the interaction between the viral nucleocapsid proteins and the envelope proteins?
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What is the definition of virology?
What is the definition of virology?
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What is the main characteristic of viruses?
What is the main characteristic of viruses?
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What distinguishes atypical virus-like agents from typical viruses?
What distinguishes atypical virus-like agents from typical viruses?
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What are defective viruses composed of?
What are defective viruses composed of?
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Study Notes
Viroids and Viruses
- Viroids are small, infectious agents composed solely of a short strand of circular RNA without protein coats, distinguishing them from other pathogens.
Determination of Viral Particle Structure
- The shape and size of viral particles are most effectively determined using techniques like electron microscopy or X-ray crystallography.
Icosahedral Viruses
- Icosahedral viruses feature a symmetrical structure characterized by 20 triangular faces, resembling the geometry of an equilateral triangle.
Virus Core Composition
- The main component of the virus core is the viral nucleic acid, which can be either DNA or RNA, encased in protective protein coats called capsids.
Types of Viruses
- Viruses can be categorized as either enveloped or naked; enveloped viruses have a lipid membrane, while naked viruses lack this outer layer.
Protein Interactions
- The interaction between viral nucleocapsid proteins and envelope proteins is mediated by specific protein-protein interactions that ensure virus assembly and stability.
Definition of Virology
- Virology is a branch of microbiology focused on the study of viruses, including their structure, classification, and interactions with host organisms.
Characteristics of Viruses
- Viruses are defined by their inability to reproduce independently; they require a host cell to replicate and produce new viral particles.
Atypical Virus-like Agents
- Atypical virus-like agents, such as prions and viroids, differ from typical viruses primarily in their lack of a protein coat and significant parts of their infectious nature.
Defective Viruses Composition
- Defective viruses consist of a combination of incomplete viral genomes, which may rely on co-infection with a helper virus to propagate and infect host cells.
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Description
Test your knowledge about virus structures and components including virions, pseudovirions, viroids, and prions. Learn about the composition and characteristics of infectious viral particles.
