Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses

Bauman - Microbiology with Diseases by Taxonomy 6th Edition

Bauman6th EditionMicrobiology with Diseases by TaxonomyISBN: 9780134832302Not the one you use?Change textbook

Bauman 6th Edition

Ch. 24 - Pathogenic DNA Viruses

Problem 11

Chapter 24, Problem 11

Which of the following viral families is most likely to contain viruses that exist in a latent
state in humans?
a. Herpesviridae
b. Poxviridae
c. Adenoviridae
d. Parvoviridae

Verified step by step guidance

Step 1: Understand the concept of viral latency. Latency is a state in which a virus remains dormant within a host cell, not actively replicating or causing symptoms, but capable of reactivating later.

Step 2: Review the characteristics of each viral family listed: Herpesviridae, Poxviridae, Adenoviridae, and Parvoviridae, focusing on their ability to establish latency in human hosts.

Step 3: Recall that the Herpesviridae family is well-known for its ability to establish lifelong latent infections in humans, often residing in nerve cells and reactivating under certain conditions.

Step 4: Compare this with Poxviridae, Adenoviridae, and Parvoviridae, which generally do not establish true latency but may cause acute or persistent infections without a latent phase.

Step 5: Conclude that the viral family most likely to contain viruses that exist in a latent state in humans is Herpesviridae, based on its well-documented latency behavior.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Viral Latency

Viral latency is a state in which a virus remains dormant within a host cell without producing new virus particles. During latency, the viral genome persists in the host, often integrated into the host DNA or as an episome, and can reactivate later to cause active infection. This strategy helps viruses evade the immune system and establish long-term infections.

Herpesviridae Family Characteristics

The Herpesviridae family includes viruses known for their ability to establish lifelong latent infections in humans. Members like herpes simplex virus and varicella-zoster virus can remain dormant in nerve cells and reactivate under certain conditions, causing recurrent disease. This latency and reactivation cycle is a hallmark of herpesviruses.

Differences Among Viral Families

Different viral families have distinct replication strategies and interactions with the host. While Herpesviridae are known for latency, Poxviridae typically cause acute infections without latency, Adenoviridae can cause persistent infections but rarely latent, and Parvoviridae usually cause acute infections. Understanding these differences helps identify which viruses can establish latency.

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Related Practice

Textbook Question

Which of the following statements is false?

a. B19 virus is the primary parvovirus of humans.

b. Erythema infectiosum is caused by a parvovirus.

c. In children, parvovirus infections are accompanied by a high mortality rate.

d. Parvovirus infection in humans results in infectious reddening of the skin.

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Textbook Question

Human herpesvirus 2 _____.

a. can cause genital herpes

b. may infect a baby at birth

c. causes about 10% of cold sores

d. all of the above

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Textbook Question

Monkeypox has been diagnosed in several humans in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. What might be recommended to prevent further risk of infection?

a. Catch the monkeys for inoculation with monkeypox vaccine.

b. Remove infected tissues from humans with chemicals, by surgery, or by freezing.

c. Reinstate smallpox vaccinations for the country's population.

d. The diagnosis must have been incorrect because humans are unaffected by

monkeypox.

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Textbook Question

DNA viruses in which of the following families are relatively large and thus potentially

well suited for the introduction of genetic material in gene therapy?

a. Herpesviridae

b. Poxviridae

c. Papillomaviridae