Question

Read pp. 405-407; MICRO CHECK page 407: 16. How can prions be destroyed? Chapter 25: Pathogenic RNA Viruses Read pp. 750-757; MICRO CHECK page 757: 9. What is the first step in the synthesis of dsDNA from +SsRNA by reverse transcriptase? 11. How is the +RNA genome of HIV used differently than genomes of other +5SRNA viruses?

Answer 1

16) prions are virtually indestructible. It is resistant to heat, radiation and other techniques used for sterilization. Antibodies against PrP could be one potential treatment for prion diseases.

9) Firstly, RNA dependent DNA polymerase synthesise a DNA strand complementary to RNA template

11) HIV genomes consists of 2 identical ssRNA molecules that are enclosed within the core of Virus particle. The genome of HIV provirus also known as proviral DNA is generated by reverse transcriptase of the viral RNA genome into DNA degradation of RNA and integration of the double stranded HIV DNA into the human genomes.

HIV has a 9.2 kb unspliced genomic transcript which encodes for gag and pol precursor, a single spliced 4.5kb encoding for env, vif, vpr, vpu and a multiply spliced, 2 kb mRNA encoding for Tal, Rev, Nef.

Other + ssRNA viruses genomes have kbp range of 2 to 13.