Ch. 13 - Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

Tortora - Microbiology: An Introduction 14th Edition

Tortora14th EditionMicrobiology: An IntroductionISBN: 9780138200398Not the one you use?Change textbook

Tortora 14th Edition

Ch. 13 - Viruses, Viroids, and Prions

Problem 10

Chapter 13, Problem 10

Identify the viral family that infects skin, mucosa, and nerve cells; causes infections that can recur because of latency; and has polyhedral geometry.

Verified step by step guidance

Understand the characteristics given: the virus infects skin, mucosa, and nerve cells; it causes infections that can recur due to latency; and it has a polyhedral geometry.

Recall that viruses capable of latency often belong to the Herpesviridae family, which are known for establishing latent infections in nerve cells.

Recognize that Herpesviridae viruses have an icosahedral (a type of polyhedral) capsid structure, which fits the polyhedral geometry description.

Consider the typical clinical manifestations of Herpesviridae viruses, such as cold sores and genital herpes, which involve skin and mucosal infections and can reactivate from latency.

Conclude that the viral family described is Herpesviridae based on the combination of cell tropism, latency, and capsid geometry.

Verified video answer for a similar problem:

This video solution was recommended by our tutors as helpful for the problem above.

Video duration:

Was this helpful?

Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Viral Tropism

Viral tropism refers to the specific cells or tissues a virus can infect, determined by the presence of compatible receptors. Understanding which cells a virus targets, such as skin, mucosa, and nerve cells, helps identify the virus family and its disease manifestations.

Viral Latency and Recurrence

Latency is a phase where the virus remains dormant within host cells, often nerve cells, without causing symptoms. Reactivation can lead to recurrent infections. Recognizing latency is key to understanding chronic or recurring viral diseases.

Viral Capsid Geometry

Viruses have characteristic shapes of their protein shells (capsids), such as polyhedral (many-sided) geometry. Identifying capsid shape aids in classifying viruses into families and understanding their structural biology.

Recommended video:

Guided course

05:12

Persistent Viral Infections

Related Practice

Textbook Question

Which of the following does not initiate DNA synthesis?

a. A double-stranded DNA virus (Poxviridae)

b. A DNA virus with reverse transcriptase (Hepadnaviridae)

c. An RNA virus with reverse transcriptase (Retroviridae)

d. A single-stranded RNA virus (Togaviridae)

e. None of the above

1179

views

Textbook Question

Plant viruses can’t penetrate intact plant cells because (a) ________; therefore, they enter cells by (b) ________. Plant viruses can be cultured in (c) ________.

1396

views

Textbook Question

A viral species is not defined on the basis of the disease symptoms it causes. The best example of this is

a. polio.

b. rabies.

c. hepatitis.

d. chickenpox and shingles.

e. measles.

1128

views