Essay --

a) Physical characteristics of your virus 1. What is the shape of the viral capsid? Shape of the viral capsid is icosahedral. 2. Is the virus naked or enveloped? Varicella zoster is enveloped. 3. Which type of genome (ssDNA, dsDNA, ssRNA, or dsRNA) is found in the virus? Type of genome where VZV is found is double stranded DNA. b) Viral Infection 1. What is the host range (species and types of cells infected) of the virus? Humans are the only natural host. 2. What are the signs and symptoms of your viral infection? The first symptoms to appear are fever and rash. After fever the most prominent symptom of VZV are itchy skin lesions that become raised and filled with clear fluid (vesicles). After several days the blisters pop and start to crust over. c) Pathogenesis 1. How does your virus cause the signs and symptoms of the viral infection? The lesions are caused by the virus destroying the boundaries of the cells in the skin, this causes multiple cells to merge into one large cell. 2. Which types of cytopathic effects are caused by your virus? The formation of syncytia. This is where a virus turns several host cells into one giant cell with that has several nuclei. Another cytopathic effect of VZV is inclusion bodies. This is a very high concentration of the virus inside the nucleus and cytoplasm of a cell. d) Culture and diagnosis 1. How is your viral infection diagnosed? Although diagnosis for VZV is generally based on visual appearance there are few diagnostic tests that can be used to determine it. A. Virus culture- Takes a specimen of the fluid inside one of the vesicles. B. Polymerase chain reaction- Where a small amount of DNA from the virus becomes amplified. The virus is replicated until it reaches a quant... ...doses? For Varivax 1st dose between 12-15 months and the 2nd dose between 4-6 years. The second dose may be given earlier as long as at least 90 days has lapsed since the 1st dose. People over the age of 13 who have never been vaccinated should have 2 doses administered at least 28 days apart. For Zostavax people over the age of 50 should have the vaccination once. Both Varivax and Zostavax contain weakened strains of the live virus. g) Fun facts: Include any additional information that you find interesting, strange, or alarming about your virus. One thing I found alarming about Varicella zoster virus is that it can lead to the development of Reye’s Syndrome if child with an active infection takes a product that contains salicylates. Reye’s syndrome effects the central nervous system and can be the cause of amnesia, seizures, or coma to note a few symptoms. Essay -- a) Physical characteristics of your virus 1. What is the shape of the viral capsid? Shape of the viral capsid is icosahedral. 2. Is the virus naked or enveloped? Varicella zoster is enveloped. 3. Which type of genome (ssDNA, dsDNA, ssRNA, or dsRNA) is found in the virus? Type of genome where VZV is found is double stranded DNA. b) Viral Infection 1. What is the host range (species and types of cells infected) of the virus? Humans are the only natural host. 2. What are the signs and symptoms of your viral infection? The first symptoms to appear are fever and rash. After fever the most prominent symptom of VZV are itchy skin lesions that become raised and filled with clear fluid (vesicles). After several days the blisters pop and start to crust over. c) Pathogenesis 1. How does your virus cause the signs and symptoms of the viral infection? The lesions are caused by the virus destroying the boundaries of the cells in the skin, this causes multiple cells to merge into one large cell. 2. Which types of cytopathic effects are caused by your virus? The formation of syncytia. This is where a virus turns several host cells into one giant cell with that has several nuclei. Another cytopathic effect of VZV is inclusion bodies. This is a very high concentration of the virus inside the nucleus and cytoplasm of a cell. d) Culture and diagnosis 1. How is your viral infection diagnosed? Although diagnosis for VZV is generally based on visual appearance there are few diagnostic tests that can be used to determine it. A. Virus culture- Takes a specimen of the fluid inside one of the vesicles. B. Polymerase chain reaction- Where a small amount of DNA from the virus becomes amplified. The virus is replicated until it reaches a quant... ...doses? For Varivax 1st dose between 12-15 months and the 2nd dose between 4-6 years. The second dose may be given earlier as long as at least 90 days has lapsed since the 1st dose. People over the age of 13 who have never been vaccinated should have 2 doses administered at least 28 days apart. For Zostavax people over the age of 50 should have the vaccination once. Both Varivax and Zostavax contain weakened strains of the live virus. g) Fun facts: Include any additional information that you find interesting, strange, or alarming about your virus. One thing I found alarming about Varicella zoster virus is that it can lead to the development of Reye’s Syndrome if child with an active infection takes a product that contains salicylates. Reye’s syndrome effects the central nervous system and can be the cause of amnesia, seizures, or coma to note a few symptoms.