Viral Pathogens Flashcards

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  • Make sure you understand the information on each card. If something's unclear, click the link to the revision notes at the bottom of the page for more details.

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Note: We may include questions that have multiple correct answers. It's useful to remember specific examples to understand these concepts better.

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What is a virus?

A virus is a tiny type of pathogen. It is much smaller than cells and must infect living cells to reproduce.

What is the basic structure of a virus?

A virus has genetic material (DNA or RNA) inside a protein coat. It has no cytoplasm, nucleus, or cell membrane like a normal cell.

Why are viruses not classed as living cells?

Viruses cannot do life processes on their own, such as respiration or reproduction. They do not have the cell structures that living cells have.

What is meant by a host cell in viral infection?

A host cell is a living cell that a virus infects. The virus uses the host cell to make many new viruses.

How do viruses reproduce inside the body?

A virus attaches to a host cell and passes in its genetic material. The cell makes many copies of the virus, then often bursts and releases them.

How do viral pathogens make you feel ill?

Viral pathogens damage and kill body cells when they burst out of them. Your immune system’s response to the virus also causes symptoms such as fever.

How are viruses different in size from bacteria?

Viruses are much smaller than bacteria. They are so small that they can only be seen with an electron microscope.

Why do antibiotics not work on viral infections?

Antibiotics target parts of bacterial cells, such as cell walls or ribosomes. Viruses do not have these parts and live inside your cells, so antibiotics cannot kill them.

Give two ways viral diseases can spread between people.

Viral diseases can spread in droplets from coughs and sneezes and by touching contaminated surfaces. Some also spread in body fluids such as blood.

Why does each virus usually infect only certain cells or species?

Proteins on the outside of a virus only match certain shapes on the surface of some cells. This means the virus can enter and infect only those cells or that species.