Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the approximate length of the head of the T₂ bacteriophage?
What is the approximate length of the head of the T₂ bacteriophage?
What type of genetic material does the T₂ bacteriophage contain?
What type of genetic material does the T₂ bacteriophage contain?
Which of the following is NOT a component of the T₂ bacteriophage tail?
Which of the following is NOT a component of the T₂ bacteriophage tail?
What is the length of the T₂ bacteriophage's tail?
What is the length of the T₂ bacteriophage's tail?
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What structural feature gives coronaviruses their crown-like appearance?
What structural feature gives coronaviruses their crown-like appearance?
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Which of the following coronaviruses is associated with the outbreak that began in 2003?
Which of the following coronaviruses is associated with the outbreak that began in 2003?
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During which cycle do viruses replicate and then cause the host cell to lyse?
During which cycle do viruses replicate and then cause the host cell to lyse?
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What does SARS-CoV-2 primarily bind to on human cells to enable its entry?
What does SARS-CoV-2 primarily bind to on human cells to enable its entry?
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What is the approximate size of the RNA genome of coronaviruses?
What is the approximate size of the RNA genome of coronaviruses?
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How many genes does the T₂ bacteriophage contain approximately?
How many genes does the T₂ bacteriophage contain approximately?
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Study Notes
Bacteriophage T₂
- Bacteriophage T₂ is a well-known virus with a distinct structure.
- The virus has two main parts: the head and the tail.
- The head is hexagonal in shape with a length of 93-100 nm and width of 65 nm.
- The head contains double-stranded DNA, approximately 60,000 base pairs, with a length of 50 µm.
- The tail is located behind the head, measuring 95-110 nm long and 15-25 nm in diameter.
- The tail consists of a collar, a baseplate, spikes, and six tail fibers.
- All parts of the phage are made of proteins.
COVID-19
- Coronavirus, a large virus in the Coronaviridae family, has a crown-like appearance (corona = crown in Latin).
- It's characterized by a double-layered lipid envelope and a large RNA genome of approximately 27-32 kb.
- Four known coronaviruses exist, with three being zoonotic (human and animal).
- SARS-CoV (SARS) – emerged in 2003, originating from bats.
- MERS-CoV (MERS) – appeared in 2012, originating from bats via camels.
- SARS-CoV-2 – the virus causing COVID-19, presumed to be zoonotic.
- The virus causing COVID-19 was initially known as 2019-nCoV.
- COVID-19 is covered in many spike proteins, which bind to human cell proteins, allowing the virus to enter and replicate within host cells.
- The virus utilizes the host's machinery to duplicate its RNA and coat proteins.
Viral Replication
- Viruses lack their own replication mechanisms.
- They rely on the host cell's DNA replication machinery to create more viruses.
Lytic Cycle
- The lytic cycle is a process where a virus infects a host cell, replicates, and then causes the cell to burst, releasing new viruses.
- The lytic cycle of T₂ bacteriophage in Escherichia coli (E. coli) involves several steps:
- Attachment/Landing: The T₂ bacteriophage attaches to the E. coli cell wall through receptors on the cell's surface.
- The viral proteins align with the receptors, allowing the virus to enter the cell.
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Description
This quiz covers key features of two significant viruses: Bacteriophage T₂ and COVID-19. It explores the unique structures, genetic materials, and classifications of each virus, highlighting their importance in virology. Test your understanding of their characteristics and how they affect living organisms.
