MBIO 302 Chapter Notes - Chapter 6: Intracellular Parasite, Non-Cellular Life, Phospholipid
5 Mar 2020
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Not included in tree of life because they are acellular. In order to survive and reproduce, viruses must infect a host cell - obligate intracellular parasites. Made up of nucleic acids and proteins (some have lipid envelope) Obligate intracellular parasites with host and cell type specificity. Genome is surrounded by a protein capsid and, in some cases, a phospholipid membrane studded with viral glycoproteins. Lack genes for many products needed for successful reproduction, requiring exploitation of ho cell genomes to reproduce. Viruses can infect every type of cell: plants, animals, fungi, protists, bacteria, archaea. Most viruses will only be able to infect only a certain set of cell types in certain species -host range. Viruses that infect bacteria are called bacteriophages. Other viruses are identified by their host animal virus; plant virus etc. Indirect contact with fomites - nonliving objects harboring viruses. Vectors- animal (typically mosquitoes, ticks, fleas) that transmit virus to human.
