Virology
Why study?
Viruses effect our every day lives and can be deadly.
- HIV (millions affected) - SARS CoV-2 (millions dead
+ infected)
- Ebola (central + west Africa) - Foot-and-mouth virus (cost
UK billions)
- Human rhinovirus (flu)
Links between diseases and viral infections (multiple sclerosis,
obesity, diabetes, cancers)
Cause a range of diseases in humans and animals.
- Smallpox - Yellow fever
- Measles, mumps - Chicken pox etc.
What is known
Gene expression (how our cells make proteins)
DNA replication (how our cells copy our DNA code)
Eukaryotic cell biology (how our cells are structured and work
biochemically and physiologically)
Our immune system (you will learn about this next year)
Cancer and other diseases
Production of vaccines and drugs
, Helpful viruses
Viruses infecting insects are used as biopesticides to control
insect crop pests.
Viruses infecting bacteria (bacteriophages) are used to treat
diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Some viruses are used as vaccines for prevention of viral
diseases.
o Think of the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines that are being
rolled out in SA at the moment; these are based on
modified viruses.
Baculoviruses
Used as a biopesticide against Lepidopteran (damage crops),
army worms, potato tuber moth, Etc.
o Replaces chemical insecticides.
Naturally infect these insects and are therefore
environmentally friendly.
The picture shows Baculovirus particles.
Baculoviruses infect the larval stages of
lepidopteran insects (moths).
Once infected the larvae become milky and white
in colour and die quickly.
, Healthy larvae (A and C) and dead baculovirus infected larvae (B
and D)
Harmful viruses
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)
Effects cloven-hooved livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs)
o 2001, outbreak in UK within a few weeks hundreds of
cases were reported.
o A mass slaughter of infected stock took place, the army
was deployed to help, and the carcasses burned.
o After a year the country was free of the virus and could
sell meat again.
o > 4 mil. Were slaughtered and 14 bil. Spent in the
process.
General
Viruses infect all life-forms
10-50 mil/ml of seawater/soil/sewage
Very small in size with very small genomes.
Hard to place in the Tree of Life due to no fossil records but
considered Eukarya.
Why study?
Viruses effect our every day lives and can be deadly.
- HIV (millions affected) - SARS CoV-2 (millions dead
+ infected)
- Ebola (central + west Africa) - Foot-and-mouth virus (cost
UK billions)
- Human rhinovirus (flu)
Links between diseases and viral infections (multiple sclerosis,
obesity, diabetes, cancers)
Cause a range of diseases in humans and animals.
- Smallpox - Yellow fever
- Measles, mumps - Chicken pox etc.
What is known
Gene expression (how our cells make proteins)
DNA replication (how our cells copy our DNA code)
Eukaryotic cell biology (how our cells are structured and work
biochemically and physiologically)
Our immune system (you will learn about this next year)
Cancer and other diseases
Production of vaccines and drugs
, Helpful viruses
Viruses infecting insects are used as biopesticides to control
insect crop pests.
Viruses infecting bacteria (bacteriophages) are used to treat
diseases caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
Some viruses are used as vaccines for prevention of viral
diseases.
o Think of the AstraZeneca and J&J vaccines that are being
rolled out in SA at the moment; these are based on
modified viruses.
Baculoviruses
Used as a biopesticide against Lepidopteran (damage crops),
army worms, potato tuber moth, Etc.
o Replaces chemical insecticides.
Naturally infect these insects and are therefore
environmentally friendly.
The picture shows Baculovirus particles.
Baculoviruses infect the larval stages of
lepidopteran insects (moths).
Once infected the larvae become milky and white
in colour and die quickly.
, Healthy larvae (A and C) and dead baculovirus infected larvae (B
and D)
Harmful viruses
Foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV)
Effects cloven-hooved livestock (cattle, sheep, pigs)
o 2001, outbreak in UK within a few weeks hundreds of
cases were reported.
o A mass slaughter of infected stock took place, the army
was deployed to help, and the carcasses burned.
o After a year the country was free of the virus and could
sell meat again.
o > 4 mil. Were slaughtered and 14 bil. Spent in the
process.
General
Viruses infect all life-forms
10-50 mil/ml of seawater/soil/sewage
Very small in size with very small genomes.
Hard to place in the Tree of Life due to no fossil records but
considered Eukarya.
