Rhinovirus: structure

In this part of a series of videos explaining why rhinovirus are more sinister than we think, I discuss their structure.

Note: This video is a basic video, not in as much dept as I would like, due to time restrictions.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Rhinovirus
• Part
• Structure
• common
• cold
• sinister
• the
• kitch
• make
• up
• viral
• proteins
• microbiology
• microbes
• infection
• disease
• pathogens

[woodwhips]

hi

why exactly does Rhinovirus have pentagons and pentagrams on it? what made this happen?

[TheKitch2]

@woodwhips If I haven't answered your question, or I misunderstood you please do let me know.

[woodwhips]

@TheKitch2

Thanks!

There wasn't really a clear example in this clip, what I was referring to are the 5 sided stars and pentagons all over the Rhinovirus. I can't add a link into the comment for a picture, but if you search Rhinovirus on google images surely you will see what I mean.

So those are the receptors?

[TheKitch2]

@woodwhips From what I can see on google images, yes these are receptors, which bind to ICAM-1 (intra cellular adhesion molecule 1) which is found on the host cell membrane. Which are the cells in the upper (and there is increasing evidence to suggest lower) airway.

[woodwhips]

@TheKitch2

Cool thanks.

Why do we have these host cells? How did this virus come to be? Am I correct that viruses are not alive(they don't metabolize)? So what use would there be for this little pack of DNA or RNA floating around that only serves to modify our genes and makes us feel like crap=P? Do these host cells serve any other purpose?

[TheKitch2]

@woodwhips These host cells are part of the epithelial tissue, which lines the airways. Their purpose is not anything to do with these (or any virus). Viruses evolved to infect these cells.

Yes you are correct, viruses aren't alive (although they do evolve). Do can't metabolise.

These little packs of DNA like all organisms are trying to survive. However we have taken advatage of them, we use them to study gene expression, they are vectors in recombinant DNA technology

[TheKitch2]

@woodwhips also there is research currently going on to use viruses in gene therapy (adenovirus I believe is one of the viruses being used)

[TheKitch2]

@woodwhips There are no pentagons or pentagrams on the rhinovirus. It is an icosahedral structure, 20 identical equilateral triangles.

I think however you're refering to the diagram at 0.35, which is not the rhinovirus, however the pentagrams and pentagons are receptors, which are used to gain entry to a cell by binding to a receptor on the cell (kind of a lock and key mechanism)

[TheKitch2]

0:42 rhinoviri are non enveloped.

[Saweet33]

Is the diagram of the rhinovirus on 0:34 or on 0:42 ?