1 Pathogenic Viruses Name of virus what family it belongs to what disease it causes, organ system affected DNA or RNA? Route of transmission; reservoirs, vectors Viral virulence factors (selected viruses) Immunizations

2 A molecular biology lesson RNA mutates more readily than DNA –Copying mistakes by the enzymes are not corrected –Not double stranded, so no mismatches noticed that can be fixed. –Many variants result –Less chance of lasting immunity –Harder to create vaccines

3 HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus Host range –Main types of cells infected: T helper cells and dendritic cells (including macrophages, microglia) Have CD4 and CCR5 glycoproteins on surface Infection process –RNA is copied into cDNA by reverse transcriptase –cDNA inserts into host chromosome –New RNA made –Protein precursor made, then processed; assembly occurs –Virions bud through cell membrane

HIV life cycle Binding to host cell 2.Copying RNA into DNA by Rev Trans 3.Integration into host DNA 4.Transcription 5.Translation 6.Assembly and exit by budding

5 Disease process Chronic infection –T cells continually made, continually destroyed –Eventually, host loses AIDS diagnosis: –Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome CD4 cell count below 200/µl; opportunistic infections Examples of opportunistic “infections” –Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP pneumonia) –Kaposi’s sarcoma; Tuberculosis; several others

6 Prevention and Treatment Prevention is easy –Practice monogamous sex, avoid shared needles –HIV cannot be spread by casual contact, skeeters Drug treatment –Nucleoside analogs such as AZT –Protease inhibitors prevent processing of viral proteins Nifty animation at:

7 HPV Papilloma virus –Cause of warts, in this case, genital warts –Virus tricks cell into preparing for cell division –Leads to greater susceptibility to cancer, particularly cervical cancer (and penile and anal cancer) Especially those viral strains that aren’t good at causing actual warts CDC researchers: estimated 20 million people in the US have human papillomavirus type16 (HPV- 16) infections (50% of all cervical cancers)

8 Gardasil New vaccine –Protects against HPV types 16, 18, 6, and 11HPV –These biotypes account for 70% of cases of cervical cancer and 90% of cases of genital warts. –Vaccine: a recombinant vaccine w/ capsid proteins Estimate: 3,700 to die of cervical cancer in 2006 Controversy: should it be mandatory? –Religious right, big Pharmaceutical lobby, etc.

9 Hepatitis Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver –Liver especially important in metabolism Breakdown of drugs, toxins, waste products –Damage results in accumulation of bilirubin Bilirubin is a stage in hemoglobin breakdown Results in yellow color: jaundice –Hepatitis can be caused by several different viruses Hepatitis A, B, and C viruses all cause liver damage, but are unrelated viruses.

10 Hepatitis B A DNA virus: “Hepadnavirus” Hepatitis B released from live cells, so accumulates in high numbers in body fluids. –Blood of infected person is rather infectious –Cuts, piercing, sex, childbirth, etc. –Large amounts of empty capsids ties up antibodies. After exposure, long incubation, long disease –10% have chronic infections –The younger the host, the likelier chronic infection

11 Hep B continued Chronic infection correlated with liver destruction –Liver tissue replaced by scar tissue; liver failure –Long term exposure to virus increases risk of liver cancer Vaccination now recommended –Because of bad result of early infection and great danger of liver damage, liver cancer. –Recombinant vaccine.

12 Hepatitis C Another RNA virus, different group: “Flavivirus” –Causes chronic infections >80% Often mild with few symptoms until damage Long period between infection and damage Long term infections increase risk of cancer. –Transmission like Hep B: blood, sex, transplants Other viral Hepatitis: D, E, F, G, …more?

13 Orthomyxovirus Influenza: a serious respiratory disease –Seasonal incidence –Virus has a segmented genome 8 different RNA molecules –Spikes: Hemagglutinin and Neuraminidase Major antigens recognized by immune system Antigenic drift and shift –Drift: small mutations, making host susceptible Requires new vaccine each year –Shift: major mixing of RNAs, whole new virus.

14 View of flu

15 Nature of influenza Attack on respiratory tract –Kills ciliated epithelial cells, allows bacterial infections. –Release of interferon from cells causes symptoms H antigen (hemagglutinin) for attachment –That it agglutinates RBCs is an artifact N antigen: neuraminidase –Cuts of the sugar on the glycoprotein receptor –Allows new virions to escape from cell without getting stuck

16 Role of H and N spikes and host cell polysaccharide

17 influenza Changes in H and N (antigenic shift) –Mixing of viruses that infect birds, pigs, produce new strains able to jump to humans. –New antigenic type leaves population unprotected –Numerous epidemics throughout history Flu of killed 20 million –Asia watched very carefully: bird flu? Flu vaccines made from deactivated viruses –Slow process (vaccine made in eggs), so every year correct strains are “guessed”. –Cell culture would be quicker but more $

18 Eukaryotic Pathogens Fungi Protozoa Not helminths (worms) in this lecture Remember these are all eukaryotes, with organelles and many of the same cellular characteristics that humans have. –Makes drug treatment more difficult.

19 Fungi Review basic fungal biology –Ascomycota, Zygomycota, Basidiomycota, based on sex –Unicellular or filamentous (molds), hyphae, mycelium Often dimorphic –Yeast in body, mold in culture Classification of fungal diseases (mycoses) –Superficial, cutaneous, subcutaneous –Systemic and opportunistic –Poisoning and allergies Treatment –Azole drugs, amphotericin B, others

20 Common: cutaneous & opportunistic Dermatophytes: various genera –Cause skin and nail diseases –Referred to as Tinea (worm) because of the ringlike appearance on scalp. –Cause ringworm, jock itch, athlete’s foot, etc. –Limited to outer layer of skin Candida (candidiasis)- normal microbiota –Cause of vaginal infections, diaper rash, thrush –Capable of infecting any part of the body –Dangerous in cancer patients, HIV infections, etc.

21 Opportunistic infections Aspergillus (aspergillosis) –Variety of species, very common in soil, plant materials –Serious infections in immunocompromised –Allergies to A. fumigatus –Poisoning from aflatoxin from A. flavus

22 Protozoans Group responsible for human diseases are the animal-like protozoa. Old groupings: –Ciliates –Amoebae –Flagellates –Sporozoans (Apicomplexans) Protozoa typically have life cycles –Simple, like vegetative and cyst found in amoebas –Complex, like sporozoans have

23 Rogue’s gallery-4 Sporozoans –Plasmodium: the cause of malaria, several species Involves mosquito, liver, red blood cells in a complex life cycle. Features a synchronous bursting of RBCs with fever, delerium, followed by rest and recovery, then cycle Number one cause of global mortality and morbidity Intracellular plasmodia ~jgjohnso/plasmodium.html Yearly: million new cases; 1 million deaths.

24 Life cycle of Plasmodium ~jgjohnso/plasmodium.html