STD.

XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

VIRUSES AND VIROIDS

In the five kingdom classification of Whittaker there is no mention of

some acellular organisms like viruses viroids and lchens.
Viruses are not truly living .They are considered as the Biological PUZZLE.
Viruses are connecting link between living and non living world.
• The word virus is derived from Latin word meaning venom or
poisonous fluid was given by PASTEUR. Viruses are sub -
microscopic,obligate intracellular parasites. They have nucleic acid core
surrounded by protein coat.
• The viruses are non- cellular organisms that are characterised by
having an inert crystalline structure outside the living cell. Once they
infect a cell they take over the machinery of the host cell to replicate
themselves, killing the host.
• SIZE AND SHAPE
Viruses are ultramicroscopic particles. They are smaller than bacteria
and their diameter range from 20 to 300 nm. (1nm=10-9 Metres.)
Bacteriophage measures about 10-100 nm in size. The size of TMV is
300x20nm.
TYPES OF VIRUSES based on shape and symmetry
1.Cuboid symmetry – ex.Adenoid virus,Herpes virus.
2.Helical symmetry - ex. Influenza virus,TMV

*Able to infect and cause diseases in living beings.

*Show irritability.
*Host – specific.
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

NON LIVING CHARACTERS

*Can be crystallised
*Absence of metabolism
*Inactive outside the host.
* Do not show functional autonomy.
*Energy producing enzyme system is absent

GENETIC MATERIAL

*They have either DNA or RNA

*No virus contains both RNA and DNA.
*The nucleicacid may be in a linear or circular form.
*Generally nucleic acid is present as a single unit but in wound tumour virus
and in influenza virus it is found in segments.
DEOXYVIRUSES
The viruses possessing DNA are called Deoxyviruses.
RIBIVIRUSES
The viruses possessing RNA are called Riboviruses.
Majority of the animal and bacterial viruses are DNA viruses.(HIV is the
animal virus which possess RNA).Plant viruses generally contain RNA
(Cauliflower Mosaic Virus)
*A virus is a nucleoprotein and the genetic material is infectious.
*Viruses that infect plants have single stranded RNA and viruses that infect
animals have either single or double stranded RNA or double stranded DNA
TMV (Tobacco Mosaic It was discovered in 1892 by Dimitry Ivanowsky from
the Tobacco plant.
Viruses infect healthy plants through vectors like aphids,locusts etc.
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

The first visible symptom of TMV is discoloration of leaf colour along the
veins and show typical yellow and green mottling which is the mosaic
symptoms.
The downward curling and distortion of young apical leaves occurs,plant
becomes stunted and yield is affected.
STRUCTURE
Electron microscopicstudies have revealed that TMV is a rod shaped helical
virus
measuring about 300x20nm with a molecular weight of 39x106 Daltons.
The Virion is made up of two constituents,a protein coat called capsid and a
core called nucleic acid. The protein coat is made up of approximately 2130
identical protein subunits called capsomeres which are present around a
central single stranded RNA molecule. The genetic information necessary for
the formation of a complete TMV particle is contained in its RNA. The RNA
consist of 6,500 nucleotides.

BACTERIOPHAGE
*Viruses that infect the Bacteria are called Bacteriophage.
*It literally means eaters of bacteria. Phages are abundant in soil, sewage
water,fruits,vegetables and milk.
STRUCTURE OF BACTERIOPHAGE
*They have double stranded DNA viruses.
*The protein coat called capsid made of small subunits called capsomeres
protects the nucleic acid.
*Theses capsomeres are arranged in helical or polyhedral geometric forms.
*The T4 phage is tadpole shaped and consists of head,collar,tail,base plate
and fibres. The head is hexagonal which consists of about 2000 identical
protein subunits. The long helical tail consists of an inner tubular core which
is connected to the head by a collar. There is a base plate attached to the end
of tail. The base plate contains six spikes and tail fibres. These fibres are used
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

to attach the phage on the cell wall of bacterial host during replication. A
dsDNA molecular of about 50um is tightly packed inside the head. The DNA is
about 1000 times longer than the phage itself.
MULTIPLICATION OR LIFE CYCLE OF PHAGES
• Lytic cycle
During lytic cycle of phage, disintegration of host bacteial cell occurs
and the progeny virions are released. The steps involved in the lytic
cycle are as follows
• ADSORPTION
Phage (T4) particles interact with cell wall of host (E.coli).The phage tail
makes contact between the two, and tail fibres recognize the specific
receptor sites present on bacterial cell surface. The lipopolysaccharides of
the tail fibres act as receptor in phages. The process involving the recognition
of phage to bacterium is called landing.
Once the contact is established between tail fibres and bacterial cell to the
cell surface. This step is called pinning.
(II)PENETRATION
The Penetration process involves mechanical and enzymatic digestion of the
cell wall of the host. At the recognition site phage digests certain cell wall
structure by viral enzyme (lysozyme).After contraction of the base plate
enlarges through which DNA is injected into the cell wall without using
metabolic energy.The step involving injection of DNA particle alone into the
bacterial cell is called Transfection.The empty protein coat leaving outside
the cell is known as Ghost.

iii)SYNTHESIS
This step involves the degradation of bacterial chromosomes, protein
synthesis and DNA replication. The phage nucleic acid takes over the host
biosynthetic machinery. Host DNA gets inactivated and breaks down. Phage
DNA suppresses the synthesis of bacterial protein and directs the metabolism
of the cell to synthesis the proteins of the phage particles and simultaneously
replication of phage DNA also takes place.
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

(iv)ASSEMBLY AND MATURATION

The DNA of the phage and protein coat are synthesised separately and are
assembled to form phage particles.The process of assembling the phage
particles is known as Maturation. After 20mts of infection about 300 new
phages are assembled.
(v) RELEASE
The phage particle gets accumulated inside the host cell and are released by
the lysis of the host cell wall.
LYSOGENIC CYCLE
In the lysogenic cycle the phage DNA gets integrated into host DNA and gets
multiplied along with nucleic acid of the host. No independent viral particle is
formed.
As soon as the phage injects its linear DNA into the host cell, it becomes
circular and integrates into the bacterial chromosome by recombination. The
activity of the prophage gene is repressed by two repressor proteins which
are synthesised by phage genes. This checks the synthesis of new phages
within the host cell. However, each time the bacterial cwll divides, the
prophage multiplies along with the bacterial chromosomes. On exposure to
UV radiation and chemicals the excision of phage DNA may occur and results
in lytic cycle.

VIRION
Virion is an intact infective virus particle which is non – replicating outside
the host cell.
VIROID
Viroid is a circular molecule of ssRNA without a capsid and was discovered
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

T.O.Diener in the year 1971. The RNA of viroid has low molecular weight.
Viroids cause citrus exocortis and potato spindle tuber disease in plants.
VIRUSOIDS
Virusoids were discovered by J.W.Randles and Co-workers in 1981. They are
the small circular RNAs which are similar to viroids but they are always linked
with larger molecules of viral RNA.
PRIONS
Prions were discovered by Stanely B.Prusiner in the year 1982 and are
proteinaceous infectious particles. They are the causative agents for about a
dozen fatal degenerative disorders of the central nervous system of humans
andother animals. For example Creutzfeldt – Jakob Disease (CJD), Bovine
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) – commonly known as mad cow disease
and scrapie disease of sheep.
VIRAL DISEASE
PLANT DISEASES ANIMAL DISEASES HUMAN
DISEASE
1.Tobacco mosaic 1. Foot and mouth disease 1. Common
cold
2.Cauliflower mosaic of cattle 2.Hepatitis B
3.Sugarcane mosaic 2. Rabies of dog 3.Cancer
4.Potato leaf roll 3 .Encephalomyelities of horse 4.SARS
5.Bunchy top of banana 5.AIDS
6.Leaf curl of papaya 6. Rabies
7.Vein clearing of Lady’s finger 7.Mumps
8.Rice Tungro disease 8. Polio
9.Cucumber mosaic 9.Chikungunya
10.Tomato mosaic disease 10. Small Pox
11.Chicken Pox
12. Measles
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

QUESTION
1.In the five kingdom of classification of Whittaker some are not included
they are ---------
a) Virus b)Viroids c) lichens d) both a and b
2.Virus is
a) Completely non - living b)Inert crystalline structure outside the living
cell
c) cellular organism d) one of the whittaker’s classification
3.Virus the name means
a) venom of poisonous fluid b) acellular form
c) Non cellular form d) The connecting link between living and non –
living
4. The name virus that means venom or poisonous fluid was given by
a) Ivanowsky b)Pasteur c) Whittaker d) Beijerinck
5.Contagium vivum fluidum ( infection living fluid) name given to fluid extract
from infected tobacco plant was given by ----
6.VIiruses are
a) Inert outside their specific host cell b) Obligate parasite
c) Passes through bacteria proof filter d) all above statements are correct
7.Who showed that virus can be crystallized out ?
a) Ivanowsky b) Beijerinck c) Stanely d) Pasteur
8.Virus contains
a) Protein b) DNA c) RNA d) (a) and either (b) or (c)
9.Virus infected plants generally have
a) single stranded DNA b) Double stranded DNA
c) Double stranded RNA d) Single stranded RNA
 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

10. Bacrteriophage generally have

a) single stranded RNA b) double stranded RNA
c) double stranded DNA d) any of the above
11.Viruses which infect animals have
a) single stranded RNA b) double stranded RNA
c) double stranded DNA d) any of the above
12. Capsomeres may be arranged in
a) helical b) polyhedral c) ellipsoid d) either (a) or (b)
13.The diameter of the virus range from ----
a) 30 to 40 nm b) 20 to 30 nm c) 20 to 300nm d) 10 to 200nm
14.Which one of the following is not true about virus

a) absence of metabolism b) can be crystallized

c)host – specific d) inactive outside the cell

15.The study of viruses is called--------

a) Virology b) bacteriology c) phycology d) mycology

16. The viruses possessing DNA are called

a) riboviruses b) deoxyviruses c) virusoid d) virion

17.In virus infected plants the following symptoms can be observed

a)Mosaic formation and stunted growth b) Leaf rolling and curling

c)yellow and vein clearing d) all of these

18. Potato spindle tuber disease is caused by

a) virus b) viroids c) Lichens d) fungi

19. TMV was discovered by

a) stanely b) Pasteur c) Dimitry Ivanowsky d) Beijerick

 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

20.TMV is a ------ shaped helical virus

a) spindle b)round c) square d) rod

21. The molecular weight of TMV -------- Daltons.

a) 39x106 b) 39x109 c)43x15 d) 30x196

22. viruses infecting bacteria are called

a) algae b) bacteriophage c) virion d) prions

23.The T4 phage is ----shaped

a) fish b) earthworm c) tadpole d) frog

24.The head of T4 phage is----

a) helical b) spiral c) round d) hexagonal

25.The process involving the recognition of phage to bacterium is called

a) landing b) pinning c) maturation d) Transfection

26.The step involving injection of DNA particle of T4 phage alone into the
bacterial cell is

a) Transfection b) pinning c) maturation d) landing

27. Replication of phage DNA takes place in lytic cycle

a) Adsorption b) Synthesis c) Penetration d) Assembly and maturation

28.The empty protein coat of the T4 phage leaving outside the cell is known as

a) host b) ghost c) capsid d) nucleic acid

29.As soon as the phage injects its linear DNA into its host cell, it becomes
circular and integrates into the bacterial chromosome by--------

a)Recombination b) reproduction c) transduction d)synthesis

 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

30.The integrated phage DNA with bacterial chromosome is called

a) mycophage b) metaphase c) prophage d) bacteriophage

31. Viruses infecting blue green algae are called

a) mycophage b) prophage c) cyanophage d) bacteriophage

32.The viruses attacking fungi are called

a) cyanophage b) prophage c) bacteriophage d) mycophage

33.Which is the intact infective virus particle that is non – replicating outside
the host cell

a) protein b) virion c) viroids d) prion

34. A virion is a

a) without protein coat b ) enucleated virus c)prions d) virus

35.A bacteriophage is

a) A virus attacking a bacterium

b) A bacterium attacking a virus

c) A stage in the life cycle of bacterium

d) A virus attacking another virus

36.Who discovered Viroids

a) Stanely b) T.O.Diener c) J.W.Randles d) Pasteur

37.Who discovered Virusoids

a) J.W.Randles b) T.O.Diener c) Stanely d) Edward Jenner

38.Citrus exocortis and potato spindle tuber disease in plants caused by

a) virus b) prion c) bacteria d) viroid

 STD.XI UNIT II BIOLOGICAL CLASSIFICATION

39.Prions were discovered by

a) Stanley B.Prusiner b)T.O.Diener c) J.W.Randles D) F.W.Twort

40.Creutzfeldt – Jakob Disease (CJD) caused by

a) virus b) prions c) viroid d) virusoid

41.The molecular weight of RNA of viroid is

a) high b) low c) very high d) none of the above

42. Which one of the following is not a animal disease caused by virus

a) Foot and mouth disease of cattle b) Rabies of dog

c)Encephalomyelitis of horse d) Typhoid

43. Enzymes are not found in

a) fungi b) viruses c) cyanobacteria d) Algae

44.viroids have

a) DS RNA enclosed by protein coat b)DS DNA not enclosed by protein coat

c) SS RNA enclosed by protein coat

d) SS RNA not enclosed by protein coat

45. Infective unit of virus is called

a) nucleoid b) virion c) nucleoprotein d) capsid

1. d 2. b 3. a 4. b 5. d 6. d 7. c 8. d 9.d 10. c
11. d 12.d 13. c 14. a 15. a 16.b 17.d 18.b 19.c 20. d
21. a 22.b 23. c 24. d 25. a 26. a 27. b 28. b 29.a 30. c
31. c 32. d 33. b 34. d 35. a 36. b 37.a 38. d 39. a 40. b
41. b 42.d 43. b 44.d 45.b
S. JANSI RANI
PG ASST ZOOLOGY
GHSS PARAPATHI, MADURAI 635022.