Complete Study Guide: BMI3705- Comprehensive Virology 2025/2026
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Course
BMI3705
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BMI3705
Complete Study Guide: BMI3705-
Comprehensive Virology 2025/2026
What is a virion?
Complete virus particle
Describe the role of peplomers in viruses.
Glycoprotein spikes on a viral capsid or viral envelope that bind specifically to host cell receptors,
essential for host specific...
Complete Study Guide: BMI3705-
Comprehensive Virology 2025/2026
What is a virion?
Complete virus particle
Describe the role of peplomers in viruses.
Glycoprotein spikes on a viral capsid or viral envelope that bind specifically to host cell receptors,
essential for host specificity and viral infectivity.
Why are viruses considered obligate intracellular parasites?
They do not possess the complex energy-generating and metabolic machinery required for
survival outside a host cell.
How can viral replication stages be targeted for antiviral treatments?
By designing drugs that inhibit specific stages such as attachment, uncoating, or synthesis of viral
components.
What does the term “positive RNA” refer to?
It functions like mRNA, meaning it can be directly translated by host ribosomes to synthesize viral
proteins.
List the types of viral nucleic acid.
RNA or DNA, which can be single-stranded or double-stranded, positive (mRNA-like) or negative
(complementary to mRNA), and mono or multipartite (segmented).
Explain the Baltimore classification system.
It groups viruses into families based on their type of genome and how they produce mRNA.
Name two types of symmetry a viral capsid can have.
1
, Cubic (icosahedral) and helical symmetry
What comprises the nucleocapsid of a virus?
Viral nucleic acid enclosed within a capsid (protein coat).
Define virulence in terms of viruses.
The degree to which a virus can cause disease in a specific host.
What is a serum titre?
It is the reciprocal of the highest serum dilution that completely inhibits a virus-specific effect,
such as in tests like VNT or HI.
What components other than nucleic acids and proteins can be found in viruses?
Glycoproteins (spikes) and lipids (from host-derived envelopes).
How does viral attachment occur?
Through interaction of viral surface proteins (peplomers) with specific host cell receptors,
determining host cell specificity.
Describe the stages of the virus replication process.
Attachment/adsorption, Penetration, Uncoating, Synthesis, Assembly, Maturation, and Release.
What type of virus is not haploid?
Retroviridae
List the primary methods used for virus cultivation.
Experimental animals, avian embryos in eggs, in vitro cell cultures, and in vitro organ cultures.
What limits a virus to infecting certain cell types?
2
, The specificity and availability of host cell receptors required for viral attachment.
What is AGID?
Agar Gel Immunodiffusion, a method used to detect antibodies or antigens.
What defines an "emerging infection"?
A newly appearing disease or a previously known disease that is rapidly increasing in incidence or
geographic range.
Explain how virus replication within a host cell leads to viral protein production.
The viral genome directs synthesis of mRNA, which is translated by host ribosomes into viral
proteins.
What is the significance of the Virus Neutralization Test (VNT)?
It measures the ability of antibodies in serum to neutralize viral infectivity.
What does HI or HAI refer to in virology?
Haemagglutination inhibition, a test that measures antibodies that prevent agglutination of red
blood cells by viruses.
List the different types of cell cultures used in viral studies.
Primary cell cultures, secondary cell cultures, continuous cell lines, and organ cultures.
Define zoonosis.
A disease transmitted to humans from animals.
What is immunohistochemistry (IHC)?
A technique that detects antigens in cells or tissues by binding specific antibodies to their target
antigens.
Haemagglutination vs haemadsorption
3
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