Virology revision mindmap

Content by Maryam Imran

On this page you will find bullet point summaries of major topics in virology. These do not give explanations but are very useful to use as checklists of all the detail. Some sections are more detailed than the main high yield stuff you need to know for exams.

🦠 INFLUENZA

πŸ“– Features

πŸ”‘ Viral Entry:

Haemagglutinin on virus binds sialic acid on red cell surface. The sialic acid sits on protein sialyloligosaccharide

1-3 days incubation

Symptoms: Fever, malaise, headache, myalgia, cough, sore throat
Columnar epithelial cells of respiratory tract are affected

Transmission

  • Infectivity period: 3-5 days after onset
  • Large droplets and aerosols – inhalation
    Β Fomite

🧐 Diagnosis

  • Lateral flow assay on combined nose & throat swab
  • Ag detection by nasopharyngeal aspirates
  • RT PCR for viral genome
  • Ab: acute and convalescent serum
  • Viral isolation: strain determination & vaccine development
    Seen as haemadsorption on monolayer
  • Note: swab needs to contain respiratory epithelial cells

πŸ’Š Treatment

VIRAL MULTIPLICATION

πŸ“– Cycle

πŸ”¬ Investigating: One-step growth curve

🧬 Diversity

RNA-dependent RNA polymerases = no proof-reading -- quasispecies

Recombination: insertion of fragments of genes from other organism such as the host – less important in viruses

BOX 3

πŸ“– Cycle

BOX 4

πŸ“– Cycle

BOX 5

πŸ“– Cycle

BOX 6

πŸ“– Cycle

MMBGold, MMBantomytips, MMB, MMB Gold, Physiology