Question
General characters of viruses
Q3 5 marks Short Essays ★ ✓
Answer
General characteristics of viruses — the fundamental properties that define viruses as a distinct category of infectious agent, separate from bacteria/other cellular microorganisms:
Obligate intracellular parasites — viruses possess no independent metabolic machinery and cannot replicate outside a living host cell; they entirely depend on the host cell’s ribosomes, enzymes, and energy sources for replication.
Genome — contain only one type of nucleic acid as their genome, either DNA or RNA (never both), which can be single- or double-stranded, and linear, circular, or segmented depending on the virus family.
Size — extremely small, generally ranging from ~20 nm to ~300 nm, mostly below the resolving power of light microscopy, requiring electron microscopy for direct visualization.
Structure — a viral particle (virion ) consists of the nucleic acid genome enclosed within a protective protein coat called the capsid (built of repeating protein subunits, capsomeres, arranged in helical, icosahedral, or complex symmetry); some viruses additionally possess a lipid envelope (derived from host cell membrane during budding) studded with viral glycoproteins, while others are non-enveloped (“naked”).
Absence of cellular organelles — lack ribosomes, mitochondria, and other organelles found in true cells; lack a cell wall/membrane of their own (other than the envelope, which is host-derived).
Replication — replicate only by directing the synthesis of new viral components (nucleic acid and proteins) within the host cell, followed by assembly into new virions (“disjunctive” replication) — fundamentally different from binary fission used by bacteria; this replication strategy is evidenced by the “eclipse phase,” during which no infectious virus is detectable while components are being separately synthesized.
Filterability — pass through bacteria-retaining filters (historically how viruses were first distinguished as “filterable agents”).
Antibiotic resistance — inherently insensitive to antibacterial antibiotics (which target bacterial-specific structures/processes such as cell wall synthesis or bacterial ribosomes), necessitating distinct antiviral drug classes that target virus-specific replication steps.
Host and tissue specificity — most viruses show a defined host range and tissue tropism, determined by the presence of specific receptors on susceptible host cells that the virus’s attachment proteins can bind.
Genetic material carried, not “alive” in the conventional sense — viruses occupy a unique position at the boundary of what is classically defined as “living,” since they show no independent metabolism or growth outside a host cell, yet possess a genome capable of directing replication and are subject to mutation/evolution like living organisms.
1 General Properties of Viruses and Virus Host Interaction
Other Years Asked
1 A 40-year-old diabetic man came to medicine O.P with fever, shortness of breath. His
family members also give history of fever and sore throat. His oxygen saturation was low
and chest x-ray showed diffuse infiltration
( 2022 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Essay · 11 marks 2 A 20-year-old female with history of multiple blood transfusions presents to outpatient
department with fever, malaise, nausea vomiting and yellowish discoloration of urine.
The blood examination showed elevated bilirubin and liver enzymes and positive for
HBs Ag 2024 March (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Essay · 10 marks 3 A 40-year-old previously healthy adult, presented to the medicine outpatient department with
malaise, fatigue, low grade fever, nausea and aversion to food. She complains of itching all over
the body. She provides history of multiple blood transfusions following a road traffic accident
eight months ago. The anti HBc IgM was positive. AST and ALT (Liver enzyme 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) Essay · 10 marks 4 Classify immunity. Add a note on passive immunity. 2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 5 Explain the reasons that helped successful eradication of smallpox. 2022 February (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 6 List molecular methods used in laboratory diagnosis of infections. Briefly mention
principle of each method. Discuss advantages and disadvantages of each method.
(1+3+2+2) 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 7 Discuss applications of monoclonal antibodies. 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 8 marks 8 What is virulence. List the different mechanisms of virulence in bacteria. Explain one of them in detail.
(1+ 3+2) 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 6 marks 9 Classify immunity. Describe acquired immunity with examples (2+4) 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 6 marks 10 Define pandemic. Name any four pandemics. Describe in detail strategies taken for their control. (1+2+3) 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 6 marks 11 Enumerate four common etiological agents for viral hemorrhagic fever. Describe the laboratory diagnosis
for any one of them. 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) Short Essay · 6 marks 12 Discuss the laboratory diagnosis of hepatitis B virus Infection 2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 13 Markers of hepatitis B virus and lab. diagnosis of hepatitis B infection. 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 14 Active immunity. 2017 February (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 15 Monoclonal antibodies and its application in clinical microbiology 2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 16 Monoclonal antibodies. 2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 17 Describe immunoglobulin G (IgG) 2017 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 18 Compare and contrast active and passive immunity. 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 19 Monoclonal antibody and its application 2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 20 Immunoglobulin G (IgG) 2018 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Essay · 5 marks 21 Tzanck smear. 2022 February (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 22 Secondary immune response 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 23 Vaccine against Varicella zoster virus. 2022 February (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 24 PCR – Principle 2022 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 25 What are the laboratory tests available to detect Hepatitis C in a suspected patient 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 26 Respiratory Syncytial virus. 2023 January (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 27 Write the applications of ELISA test 2024 March (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 28 Modes of transmission and laboratory diagnosis of Monkey pox (M Pox) 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 29 Draw the structure of HIV and label. Add a note on its transmission (2.5+1.5) 2022 February (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 4 marks 30 Human papilloma virus and the role of vaccines 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) Short Answer · 3 marks 31 Coagulase test 2014 March (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 32 Adjuvant. 2023 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 33 Coxsackie viruses. 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 34 Give two examples of antiviral drugs. 2019 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 35 Adjuvant 2019 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 36 Papilloma virus 2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 37 Prions 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 38 Eclipse phase in viral replication. 2014 March (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 39 Polio vaccines 2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 40 Monoclonal antibodies and its TWO applications 2024 August (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 41 Pulse polio programme. 2022 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 42 Continuous cell lines 2015 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 43 Human papilloma virus 2024 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 44 Active immunity. 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 45 Cytopathic effect (CPE) 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 46 Hepatitis B vaccine 2021 December (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 47 Significance of p24 antigen. 2014 March (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 48 Hereditary angioneurotic edema 2015 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 49 Primary cell culture 2021 May (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 50 Natural passive immunity 2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 51 Opportunistic viral infections in AIDS patients. 2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 52 Virus cultivation by cell culture method. 2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 53 Secretory IgA 2014 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 54 Gamma interferon. 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 55 Koch’s postulates. 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 56 Clinical significance of IgM 2025 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 57 Tissue culture 2016 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 58 Aseptic meningitis 2017 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 59 Adjuvants 2016 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 60 MMR vaccine. 2013 April (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 61 IgA 2018 February (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 62 Elusion 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 63 Pulse polio programme 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 64 Gamma interferon. 2022 October (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 65 Gene therapy 2015 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 66 Incubation period. 2023 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 67 Name two acute inflammatory markers. 2023 March (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 68 Window period in HIV infection 2021 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 69 Cell cultures for growing viruses 2015 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 70 Tissue cell line culture 2018 July (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 71 Immunofluorescence. 2020 February (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 72 Morphology of bacteriophage 2013 September (Supplementary) (2010 Scheme) Short Note · 2 marks 73 Which of the following can be used to cultivate viruses 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 74 Regarding the laboratory diagnosis of HIV infection 2025 March (Supplementary (SAY)) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 75 A: B lymphocytes have immunological memory.
R: Helper T lymphocytes help B lymphocytes make antibodies 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 76 Name four contributions of Louis Pasteur 2023 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) 1 mark 77 Hand foot and mouth disease is NOT caused by 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 78 Define acute phase reactants. Give one example. 2024 June (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) 1 mark 79 Western blot test for HIV 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 80 Name any two viruses causing diarrhoeal disease 2022 July (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) 1 mark 81 A: Window period in HIV infection is from entry of virus to appearance of symptoms.
R: Guidelines for HIV testing in India have been laid down by National AIDS Control Organisation. 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 82 What is the likely clinical diagnosis 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 83 Name TWO tests used for diagnosis of HIV infection in window period. 2024 March (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) 1 mark 84 The protein which acts as virulence factor is the 2024 December (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) MCQ · 1 mark 85 What is the role of memory cells in immune response. 2023 January (Supplementary) (2019 Scheme) 1 mark