Name: viroids, prions, and satellite viruses
Uploaded: 2025-06-12T09:31:04.000Z
Duration: 1 min 29 s
Channel: JoVE

K12 Standards

Virginia  Standards of Learning

HIgh School

Biology

BIO.4

BIO.4.a

Subviral Agents

Los agentes subvirales (viroides, priones y satélites) se parecen a los virus, pero carecen de componentes virales. Los viroides consisten en un ARN monocatenario, carecen de cápside y solo infectan plantas. Dependen de la ARN polimerasa del huésped para replicarse y autoescindirse para liberar unidades de ARN. Estos ARN no codifican proteínas, sino que forman estructuras secundarias estables, que actúan como pequeños ARN interferentes que silencian los genes de las plantas. Los priones son agentes infecciosos compuestos en su totalidad por proteínas y que carecen de ácidos nucleicos. La PrPC es una proteína normal en los animales. Cuando la PrPSc infecciosa entra en las células, se pliega erróneamente en la PrPSc, formando agregados de amiloide dañinos que dañan las neuronas. Esto conduce a encefalopatías espongiformes transmisibles, marcadas por la degeneración cerebral y la formación de vacuolas. Las enfermedades priónicas pueden ser heredadas o adquiridas a través de carne infectada o instrumentos quirúrgicos. Algunos ejemplos son la tembladera en las ovejas, la enfermedad de las vacas locas en el ganado y la enfermedad de Creutzfeldt-Jakob en los seres humanos. Los satélites son ADN o ARN encerrados en una cápside. Dependen de virus auxiliares para la replicación.

agentes subvirales

Los agentes subvirales son entidades infecciosas que se asemejan a los virus, pero carecen de uno o m&#225;s componentes virales esenciales, como la c&#225;pside o la maquinaria necesaria para la replicaci&#243;n. Estos agentes incluyen viroides, priones y sat&#233;lites, cada uno con caracter&#237;sticas estructurales y funcionales distintas que determinan su modo de infecci&#243;n y replicaci&#243;n.
Los viroides son los agentes subvirales m&#225;s simples; consisten en mol&#233;culas de ARN monocatenario circular sin cubierta proteica. Infectan exclusivamente a plantas y dependen por completo de la maquinaria celular del hospedador para su replicaci&#243;n. Los viroides se replican mediante la ARN polimerasa del hospedador a trav&#233;s de un mecanismo de c&#237;rculo rodante, y su escisi&#243;n en unidades funcionales se lleva a cabo por actividad riboz&#237;mica. Cabe destacar que los viroides no codifican prote&#237;nas; en su lugar, su ARN estructurado act&#250;a como ARN interferente peque&#241;o (siRNA), interfiriendo con la expresi&#243;n g&#233;nica del hospedador, lo que frecuentemente conduce a enfermedades. Entre los viroides pat&#243;genos se encuentra el viroide del tub&#233;rculo fusiforme de la patata (Potato spindle tuber viroid, PSTVd), que afecta a plantas de patata y tomate, provocando crecimiento atrofiado y disminuci&#243;n del rendimiento.
Los priones son agentes infecciosos &#250;nicos compuestos exclusivamente por prote&#237;nas mal plegadas, sin &#225;cidos nucleicos asociados. La prote&#237;na pri&#243;nica pat&#243;gena, PrP^Sc, es una forma mal conformada de la prote&#237;na celular normal PrP^C. Cuando PrP^Sc interact&#250;a con PrP^C, induce un cambio conformacional, provocando que la prote&#237;na normal se pliegue de forma aberrante y se agregue en forma de fibrillas amiloides. Estos agregados se acumulan en los tejidos neuronales, causando enfermedades neurodegenerativas conocidas como encefalopat&#237;as espongiformes transmisibles (TSEs). Las TSEs se caracterizan por una degeneraci&#243;n progresiva del cerebro, p&#233;rdida neuronal y formaci&#243;n de vacuolas en el tejido cerebral. Las enfermedades pri&#243;nicas pueden ser hereditarias, surgir de forma espont&#225;nea o adquirirse mediante exposici&#243;n a alimentos contaminados, instrumentos quir&#250;rgicos o trasplantes. Ejemplos incluyen el scrapie en ovejas, la encefalopat&#237;a espongiforme bovina (EEB) o "enfermedad de las vacas locas" en el ganado, y la enfermedad de Creutzfeldt&#8211;Jakob (ECJ) en humanos.
Los sat&#233;lites son agentes subvirales que contienen ARN o ADN encerrado en una c&#225;pside. No obstante, carecen de la informaci&#243;n gen&#233;tica necesaria para su replicaci&#243;n independiente y requieren coinfecci&#243;n con un virus auxiliar. Los virus sat&#233;lites dependen del virus auxiliar para replicarse y, con frecuencia, modifican los s&#237;ntomas de la enfermedad causada por dicho virus. El virus de la hepatitis D (VHD) es un virus sat&#233;lite de ARN que depende del virus de la hepatitis B (VHB) para su replicaci&#243;n y empaquetamiento, exacerbando la enfermedad hep&#225;tica en individuos coinfectados.

Agentes subvirales

Los agentes subvirales son entidades infecciosas que se asemejan a los virus, pero carecen de uno o m&#225;s componentes virales esenciales, como la ...

Education

Educación

JoVE Core

Microbiology

Microbiología

Unit

Unidad

Viruses

Virus

KEY TERMS AND CONCEPTS

TÉRMINOS Y CONCEPTOS CLAVE

viroids, prions, and satellite viruses

Viroids, prions, and satellites are subviral agents that can cause infection even though they are not complete viruses. They resemble viruses in spread and disease, but each lacks one or more key viral parts, such as a capsid or the machinery needed for replication.

Viroids are the simplest of these agents. They are circular, single-stranded RNA molecules with no protein coat. Viroids infect plants only and depend on host cell machinery to copy themselves. Host RNA polymerase replicates them through a rolling-circle mechanism, and ribozyme activity cuts the RNA into functional units. Viroids do not make proteins. Instead, their folded RNA can act as small interfering RNAs, or siRNAs, that disrupt host gene expression and can cause disease. One example is Potato spindle tuber viroid, or PSTVd, which infects potato and tomato plants and can lead to stunted growth and lower yield.

Prions are different because they are made only of misfolded protein and contain no nucleic acids. The harmful form, PrPSc, is an altered version of the normal cellular protein PrPC. When PrPSc meets PrPC, it can trigger the normal protein to misfold and clump together into amyloid fibrils. These aggregates build up in nerve tissue and cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies, or TSEs. TSEs involve progressive brain damage, loss of neurons, and vacuoles in brain tissue. Prion disease may be inherited, may appear on its own, or may be acquired through contaminated food, surgical instruments, or transplants. Examples include scrapie in sheep, bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or mad cow disease, in cattle, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in humans.

Satellites are subviral agents that contain RNA or DNA inside a capsid, but they cannot replicate on their own. They need co-infection with a helper virus to copy their genetic material. Satellite viruses depend on the helper virus for replication and packaging, and they often change the symptoms caused by the helper virus. Hepatitis D virus, or HDV, is a satellite RNA virus that relies on Hepatitis B virus, or HBV, and can make liver disease worse in people co-infected with both viruses.

Viroids, Prions, and Satellite Viruses

introduction to virus

Virus Structure, Entry, and Replication

Viruses are biological entities that rely on host cells to make more copies of themselves. They do not have cells or their own metabolism, but they can show signs of life when they infect a host. Their basic structure includes a nucleic acid core, made of either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. Viruses are classified by the type of nucleic acid they contain and by their structure. Some viruses also have a lipid envelope that comes from the host cell membrane. Enveloped...

size and structure of viral genomes

How Viral Genomes Replicate

Viral genomes can be DNA or RNA, and their structure shapes how they replicate inside host cells. They may be linear or circular. They can also be single-stranded or double-stranded. These differences affect how a virus makes copies of itself and how it interacts with the host. RNA viruses usually have smaller genomes than DNA viruses. That smaller size is linked to high mutation rates and fast evolution. RNA virus polymerases often lack proofreading, so mistakes are more common. This helps...

viral replication: lytic cycle

T4 Phage Infection of E. coli

T4 phage infection of E. coli follows a lytic cycle that lets the virus make many copies fast. Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that infect bacteria, and T-even phages such as T4 are known for this well-studied process. The cycle ends with the destruction of the bacterial host. The first step is attachment to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers on the phage bind to receptor molecules on the bacterial outer membrane, which helps the virus find the correct host. After binding, the...

viral replication: lysogenic cycle

Prophage Integration in Bacterial Cells

The lysogenic cycle shows how a bacteriophage can stay inside a bacterial cell without killing it right away. Temperate phages, such as bacteriophage lambda (λ), use this strategy to persist in Escherichia coli while the host cell remains alive. After attachment to the bacterial surface, the phage injects its genetic material into the cytoplasm. The linear phage genome then circularizes, which helps protect it from host nucleases. Next, phage-encoded integrase carries out recombination that...

dna bacteriophages

How DNA Phages Replicate in Bacteria

DNA bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria and use bacterial cell machinery to make more copies of themselves. They carry either single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA), and each group uses a different replication strategy. Their life cycles also shape how they interact with hosts and how scientists use them in biotechnology and medicine. Some ssDNA phages keep their genomes very small and compact. The icosahedral phage ΦX174 shows this clearly because it uses...

viruses of archaea

Archaeal Virus Shapes and Extreme Survival

Archaeal viruses infect archaea that live in extreme places such as acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents. These hosts often belong to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. The viruses help shape host evolution and gene transfer, which adds genetic diversity to microbial communities in harsh environments. Most archaeal viruses carry double-stranded DNA, or dsDNA, genomes. Some have single-stranded DNA, and some have RNA genomes. Their virions, or complete virus particles, show unusual...

viruses with rna genomes

RNA Virus Replication Strategies

RNA viruses use several replication strategies based on their genome type. They are grouped as positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded RNA viruses. Some RNA viruses also use reverse transcription, which adds another layer to how they copy their genetic material. Positive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that can act like messenger RNA, or mRNA, as soon as they enter a cell. This lets the virus begin making proteins right away. Bacteriophage MS2 infects Escherichia coli by attaching...

the antiviral system of bacteria and archaea: crispr

the-antiviral-system-of-bacteria-and-archaea-crispr

How CRISPR Remembers Viral Infections

CRISPR is an adaptive immune system in bacteria and archaea that helps protect cells from viral infection. It works by identifying foreign genetic material, remembering it, and stopping the same invader later. In many cases, the main targets are bacteriophages, which are viruses that infect bacteria. The first defense step begins during an initial infection. Cas proteins, which are CRISPR-associated proteins, detect foreign DNA by looking for specific sequences called Protospacer Adjacent...

crispr/cas9 genome editing

CRISPR-Cas9 and DNA Repair in Cells

CRISPR-Cas9 uses a bacterial defense system to change DNA in cells. The CRISPR-Cas system first evolved in prokaryotes to protect bacteria from invading genetic material such as viruses and plasmids. Scientists later adapted it into a genome-editing tool for plants, animals, and humans. The key enzyme is Cas9, a DNA-cutting protein called an endonuclease from Streptococcus pyogenes. In the lab, a synthetic single guide RNA, or sgRNA, directs Cas9 to a chosen DNA site. The sgRNA matches the...

subviral agents

Viroids, prions, and satellites are subviral agents that can cause infection even though they are not complete viruses. They resemble viruses in spread and disease, but each lacks one or more key viral parts, such as a capsid or the machinery needed for replication. Viroids are the simplest of these agents. They are circular, single-stranded RNA molecules with no protein coat. Viroids infect plants only and depend on host cell machinery to copy themselves. Host RNA polymerase replicates them...

key terms and concepts

Learn how viroids, prions, and satellite viruses differ in structure, replication, and disease, with examples like PSTVd, CJD, and hepatitis D.

Viroids, Prions, and Satellite Viruses | JoVE K12

JoVE Core Microbiology provides an engaging introduction to the microbial world and its influence on health, industry, and the environment. This comprehensive collection covers key concepts such as microbial structure, metabolism, genetics, and ecology. It introduces essential laboratory techniques and microscopy methods through visually engaging animations. Corresponding scientist-in-action videos bridge classroom concepts with real-world research and applications.

microbiology

Introduction to Virus

Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic ...

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. ...

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized ...

Viral Replication: Lysogenic Cycle

The lysogenic cycle is a crucial viral replication strategy that allows bacteriophages to persist within host cells without immediately destroying them. ...

DNA Bacteriophages

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria, utilizing their genetic material to hijack host cellular machinery for ...

Viruses of Archaea

Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and ...

Viruses with RNA Genomes

RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. ...

The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR

CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is a adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea that protects ...

CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing

The CRISPR-Cas system serves as a bacterial defense mechanism against invading genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids, forming the foundation for ...

Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. ...

The student will investigate and understand that bacteria and viruses have an effect on living systems. Key ideas include  viruses depend on a host for metabolic processes;

Binary Fission

Binary fission is the primary mode of asexual reproduction in prokaryotes, such as bacteria. It results in the production of two genetically identical ...

Generation Time

Bacterial generation time, the period required for a bacterial population to double during its exponential growth phase, serves as a critical measure of ...

Bacterial Growth Curve

The bacterial growth curve is a fundamental concept in microbiology that describes the dynamics of bacterial population growth in a closed system with ...

microbial-growth-measurement-direct-methods

Microbial Growth Measurement: Direct Methods

Direct methods for measuring microbial populations in a culture are essential tools in microbiology, providing quantitative data for various applications. ...

microbial-growth-measurement-indirect-methods

Microbial Growth Measurement: Indirect Methods

Estimating microbial growth is essential for understanding population dynamics and environmental adaptations. Indirect methods provide valuable insights ...

Microbial Growth Media

Microbial growth media are essential tools in microbiology, providing the nutrients and conditions necessary to cultivate and study microorganisms. These ...

Need for Obtaining Pure Cultures

Pure cultures, defined as the growth of a single microorganism species isolated from mixed populations, are fundamental tools in microbiological research ...

techniques-for-isolation-of-pure-cultures

Techniques for Isolation of Pure Cultures

Microorganisms are routinely cultured in the laboratory using various techniques to isolate, grow, and quantify them for further study. These methods rely ...

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: pH

Microorganisms are classified as acidophiles, neutrophiles, or alkaliphiles based on their pH growth preferences, reflecting their adaptations to specific ...

factors-influencing-microbial-growth-temperature

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Temperature

Microorganisms display remarkable adaptations, enabling them to thrive in diverse ecological niches across a wide range of temperatures. Temperature ...

factors-influencing-microbial-growth-osmolarity

Factors Influencing Microbial Growth: Osmolarity

Osmolarity is the measure of solute concentration in a solution. It plays a critical role in determining water availability for organisms. Water moves ...

Oxygen Requirements and Growth Patterns

Microorganisms exhibit diverse oxygen requirements and growth patterns driven by their metabolic strategies and environmental adaptations. Oxygen, while ...

Biofilms

Biofilms are complex communities of microorganisms encased in a self-produced extracellular polysaccharide matrix attached to surfaces. These microbial ...

The student will investigate and understand that bacteria and viruses have an effect on living systems. Key ideas include the modes of reproduction/replication can be compared

BIO.4.b

Prokaryotic vs. Eukaryotic Cells

Prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells represent two fundamental types of cellular organization, differing significantly in structure, complexity, and function. ...

Microbial Morphologies 

Bacterial and archaeal cells exhibit remarkable diversity in shape and structure, critical in their adaptability and functionality. Among bacteria, the ...

Bacterial Cell Wall 

The bacterial cell wall is an essential structural component that encases the plasma membrane, preserving cellular integrity, determining shape, and ...

Archaeal Cell Wall

Archaeal cell walls are structurally and compositionally distinct from their bacterial counterparts, lacking the characteristic peptidoglycan layer found ...

Peptidoglycan Synthesis

Structure of PeptidoglycanPeptidoglycan is a vital structural component of the bacterial cell wall, providing mechanical strength and shape to the cell. ...

Plasma Membrane in Bacteria and Archaea

The plasma membrane is an essential cellular structure responsible for maintaining cellular integrity and regulating the selective transport of molecules. ...

Outer Layers of the Cell Envelope

The outermost layers of prokaryotic cells play a critical role in their survival, virulence, and interaction with the environment. These layers, often ...

Flagella and Motility in Bacteria

Flagella are specialized, thread-like structures that extend from a bacteria's cell envelope. They play a crucial role in motility and chemotaxis. Their ...

Fimbriae, Pili, and Axial Filaments

Fimbriae and pili are specialized bacterial surface structures that play pivotal roles in adhesion, genetic exchange, and motility. Composed primarily of ...

Cell Inclusions

Prokaryotic cells possess a variety of inclusions that play crucial roles in nutrient storage, metabolic processes, and environmental adaptation. These ...

Endospores and Sporulation

Endospores are specialized, dormant cells primarily formed by Gram-positive bacteria, including Bacillus and Clostridium, enabling survival under extreme ...

Nucleoid

The nucleoid represents a structurally and functionally distinct region within prokaryotic cells, where the cell's DNA and associated proteins are housed. ...

Surface Appendages of Archaea

Archaeal surface appendages are highly specialized structures essential for environmental adaptation, encompassing roles in adhesion, biofilm formation, ...

The student will investigate and understand that bacteria and viruses have an effect on living systems. Key ideas include  the structures and functions can be compared

BIO.4.c

Types of Microorganisms

Microorganisms are a diverse group of microscopic entities broadly categorized into cellular and acellular types based on their structural organization. ...

environmental-applications-of-microorganisms

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as ...

community-dna-extraction-from-bacterial-colonies

Community DNA Extraction from Bacterial Colonies

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Luisa Ikner
Traditional methods of analysis ...

detecting-environmental-microorganisms-with-polymerase-chain-reaction

Detecting Environmental Microorganisms with the Polymerase Chain Reaction and Gel Electrophoresis

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - Arizona University
Demonstrating Author: Bradley Schmitz
Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is ...

rna-analysis-of-environmental-samples-using-rt-pcr

RNA Analysis of Environmental Samples Using RT-PCR

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Bradley Schmitz
Reverse ...

quantifying-environmental-microorganisms-and-viruses-using-qpcr

Quantifying Environmental Microorganisms and Viruses Using qPCR

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Bradley Schmitz
Quantitative polymerase ...

water-quality-analysis-via-indicator-organisms

Water Quality Analysis via Indicator Organisms

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba -The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Luisa Ikner
Water quality analysis monitors ...

isolation-of-fecal-bacteria-from-water-samples-by-filtration

Isolation of Fecal Bacteria from Water Samples by Filtration

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Luisa Ikner
The quality of water destined ...

detection-of-bacteriophages-in-environmental-samples

Detection of Bacteriophages in Environmental Samples

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Alex Wassimi
Viruses are a unique group of ...

culturing-and-enumerating-bacteria-from-soil-samples

Culturing and Enumerating Bacteria from Soil Samples

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Authors: Bradley Schmitz and Luisa Ikner
Surface ...

bacterial-growth-curve-analysis-and-its-environmental-applications

Bacterial Growth Curve Analysis and its Environmental Applications

Source: Laboratories of Dr. Ian Pepper and Dr. Charles Gerba - The University of Arizona
Demonstrating Author: Luisa Ikner
Bacteria are among the most ...

The student will investigate and understand that bacteria and viruses have an effect on living systems. Key ideas include  bacteria and viruses have a role in other organisms and the environment; and

BIO.4.d

History of Microbiology

Microbiology, a scientific field dedicated to the study of microorganisms, has undergone profound development since its inception in the 17th century. Its ...

Infection

When a pathogen enters the body and reproduces, it can cause an infection, damage body cells, and cause illness symptoms that eventually lead to disease. ...

Defense Mechanism Against Infection

Natural flora, body system defenses, and inflammation are natural barriers of the body against infectious agents regardless of previous exposure. Normal ...

The student will investigate and understand that bacteria and viruses have an effect on living systems. Key ideas include  the germ theory of infectious disease is supported by evidence.

BIO.4.e

Viroids, Prions, and Satellite Viruses

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