Study Guide: Viruses, Prions, and Related Concepts (GOB College Level)

Q1. What are infectious protein particles called?

Background

Topic: Prions

This question tests your knowledge of non-viral infectious agents, specifically those made only of protein.

Key Terms:

• Prion: An infectious agent composed entirely of protein, with no nucleic acid.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Recall the types of infectious agents: viruses (nucleic acid + protein), viroids (RNA), and prions (protein only).

2. Think about which agent is responsible for diseases like mad cow disease and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease.

3. Remember that prions are unique because they lack nucleic acids.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q2. What are infectious naked strands of RNA that affect plants called?

Background

Topic: Viroids

This question is about subviral agents that infect plants and are composed only of RNA.

Key Terms:

• Viroid: A small, circular RNA molecule that infects plants, lacking a protein coat.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Recall the difference between viruses, viroids, and prions.

2. Focus on the agent that is a naked RNA strand and infects plants.

3. Remember that viroids do not encode proteins and are much smaller than viruses.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q3. What is a characteristic of HIV?

Background

Topic: Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)

This question asks you to recall a defining feature of HIV, a retrovirus that infects humans.

Key Terms:

• Retrovirus: A virus that uses reverse transcriptase to convert its RNA into DNA inside a host cell.

• HIV: The virus that causes AIDS.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Think about the structure and replication cycle of HIV.

2. Recall that HIV targets immune cells, specifically CD4+ T cells.

3. Consider the enzymes HIV carries, such as reverse transcriptase.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q4. Hepatitis D is known as what type of virus?

Background

Topic: Satellite Viruses

This question is about viruses that require a helper virus to replicate.

Key Terms:

• Satellite virus: A virus that depends on the co-infection of a host cell with a helper virus for replication.

• Hepatitis D: Requires hepatitis B virus for its replication.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Recall the definition of a satellite virus.

2. Think about which hepatitis virus cannot replicate without another hepatitis virus.

3. Remember the relationship between hepatitis D and hepatitis B.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q5. HPV is known to cause what type of cancer?

Background

Topic: Oncogenic Viruses

This question tests your knowledge of viruses that can cause cancer, specifically human papillomavirus (HPV).

Key Terms:

• HPV: Human papillomavirus, a DNA virus associated with several cancers.

• Oncogenic: Capable of causing cancer.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Recall the types of cancers linked to HPV infection.

2. Think about which cancer is most commonly associated with HPV in women.

3. Remember that certain strains of HPV are high-risk for this cancer.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!

Q6. What is the animal prion disease known as "mad cow disease"?

Background

Topic: Prion Diseases

This question is about the prion disease that affects cattle and is transmissible to humans.

Key Terms:

• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE): The prion disease in cattle, also called mad cow disease.

Step-by-Step Guidance

1. Recall the names of prion diseases in animals and humans.

2. Identify which one is associated with cattle.

3. Remember the abbreviation BSE and its full name.

Try solving on your own before revealing the answer!