Picture credits (left to right):
- Dengue virus cells: http://www.cnn.com/interactive/us/0109/biochem.terrorism/rawpicts/dengue.jpg
- Hepatitis C cells: http://path.upmc.edu/cases/case17/micro.html
- Hepatitis C cells: http://www.brown.edu/.../HepatitisC/ epidmain.html

Genome

• ssRNA
• linear
• monopartite
• positive sense
• replication occurs in the cytoplasm
• capped (m7G)
• About 10kb long
• Structural genes at the 5' end
• Nonstructural genes at the 3' end
• Gene sequence: 5' leader--C--M--E--NS1--NS2A--NS2B--NS3--NS4A--NS4B--NS5--leader 3'

Capsid

• Icosahedral
• Enveloped
• Spherical shape
• 40-50 nm in diameter

Transcription

• One open reading frame
• Transcript is capped

Translation

• Proteins cleaved as they are translated
• IRES mediated

Proteins

• 3 structural proteins
  • Capsid
  • Matrix
  • Envelope
• 7 nonstructural proteins
  • Functions:
    • RNA replicase
    • Protease
    • Helicase
    • Virion Maturation accessory protein

Transmission

• Arthropod-borne: mosquitoes, ticks
• Parenteral
• Sexual
• Vertical

 

Source for all information on this page: Dr. Bob Siegel, Lecture 7, Humans and Viruses 2004