1. Introduction Viral Structure
Virology
Introduction
Viral Structure

2. Virology - Introduction
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites
Viruses are considered nonliving because they cannot reproduce on their own
Viruses contain DNA or RNA either of which is double or single stranded

3. Virology - Introduction
Host Range
Refers to range of tissue virus can infect
Most viruses can only infect a specific type of tissue within a host
Host range is determined by receptors found on found on tissue cell surfaces

4. Virology - Introduction
Viral Size
Determined by electron microscopy; viruses cannot be seen under light microscope
Viruses range from 20 to nm

5. Defenses - Interferons
Antiviral proteins
3 types alpha, beta & gamma
Produced by virus infected cell and migrate to uninfected cells that then produce antiviral proteins
Host cell specific but not virus specific