The Marburg virus is part of the family of viruses called the filoviruses and it was the first one to be discovered. Other filoviruses include the Ebolas which were “Ebola Zaire and Ebola Sudan” (Preston 38). The virus shape is compared to stands of hair, worms, or snakes. After infected someone and destroying the victim, it looks like “a tub of spaghetti that has been dumped on the floor” (Preston 37). The Marburg virus looks to be in loops and more loops unlike other viruses that are rod shaped. The loops resemble Cheerios. The Marburg virus shape is compared to the rabies virus. The rabies virus is shaped like a bullet which can then be stretched out to look like a rope which can be coiled into a loop and “becomes like a ring” (Preston 37). Marburg is “the only ring-shaped virus known” (Preston 37). Some of the other shapes of viruses are rod like viruses that have a capsid surrounding genetic material which is RNA on the inside. The Icosahedral virus has a capsid and DNA inside, but also has spikes surrounding the outside capsid. There is also a spherical virus that is similar to the Icosahedral virus with the capsid and spikes surrounding it; however it contains RNA and a membrane envelope outside the capsid to protect it. The capsid is made out of protein which the host cells recognize so the virus can attach to the host’s cells successfully and use it for its own benefit.
It has to be taken into consideration that the moment during which Monet walked into the hospital, it was "jammed with bleary-eyed people" (Preston 22). The doctors on duty were busy and were probably tending to other patients when Monet unfortunately crashed and bled out. In a moment like this, a medical professional has to make a decision, and a quick one at that. Not only was Ebola not that well known at the time, the hospital most likely lacked the high-tech resources to establish precautions of high standards to deal with an Ebola victim. Records of dealing with an Ebola victim were nonexistent at the time, seeing how this is actually the time when Ebola first started peeking out of the vortex of death. Was the doctor a bit negligent about his hygiene, potentially risking his life and the life of others? Yes, but the circumstances make his negligence somewhat justifiable.
It has to be taken into consideration that the moment during which Monet walked into the hospital, it was "jammed with bleary-eyed people" (Preston 22). The doctors on duty were busy and were probably tending to other patients when Monet unfortunately crashed and bled out. In a moment like this, a medical professional has to make a decision, and a quick one at that. Not only was Ebola not that well known at the time, the hospital most likely lacked the high-tech resources to establish precautions of high standards to deal with an Ebola victim. Records of dealing with an Ebola victim were nonexistent at the time, seeing how this is actually the time when Ebola first started peeking out of the vortex of death. Was the doctor a bit negligent about his hygiene, potentially risking his life and the life of others? Yes, but the circumstances make his negligence somewhat justifiable.
Hi Nishrat, what is an icosahedral? How do you think this shape helps the virus attach to its host? Can you also research a few viral surface proteins (possibly for ebola if this have this information) that helps it attach to human cells?
An icosahedral is a type of capsid of a virus. The shape is asymmetric and each phase of the virus is a triangle with “three subunits per face and has 12 pentameters” (Wikipedia). This shape of the virus helps it attach to its host because the symmetry of the shape allows for the “lowest-energy configuration of particles” (The Origin of Icosahedral Symmetry in Viruses) to the surface of the host. The virus has certain proteins on its capsid that allows it attach to the cell’s receptors, successfully infecting it. For Ebola, the viral surface protein, glycoprotein (GP), mediates a recognition of the host cell which “drives fusion of the viral and host membranes” (Lee 2008) and causes Ebola to get by from immune surveillance. Antibodies that neutralize the virus are very rare because there are few sites to where they could bind.
The Marburg virus is part of the family of viruses called the filoviruses and it was the first one to be discovered. Other filoviruses include the Ebolas which were “Ebola Zaire and Ebola Sudan” (Preston 38). The virus shape is compared to stands of hair, worms, or snakes. After infected someone and destroying the victim, it looks like “a tub of spaghetti that has been dumped on the floor” (Preston 37). The Marburg virus looks to be in loops and more loops unlike other viruses that are rod shaped. The loops resemble Cheerios. The Marburg virus shape is compared to the rabies virus. The rabies virus is shaped like a bullet which can then be stretched out to look like a rope which can be coiled into a loop and “becomes like a ring” (Preston 37). Marburg is “the only ring-shaped virus known” (Preston 37). Some of the other shapes of viruses are rod like viruses that have a capsid surrounding genetic material which is RNA on the inside. The Icosahedral virus has a capsid and DNA inside, but also has spikes surrounding the outside capsid. There is also a spherical virus that is similar to the Icosahedral virus with the capsid and spikes surrounding it; however it contains RNA and a membrane envelope outside the capsid to protect it. The capsid is made out of protein which the host cells recognize so the virus can attach to the host’s cells successfully and use it for its own benefit.
ReplyDeleteIt has to be taken into consideration that the moment during which Monet walked into the hospital, it was "jammed with bleary-eyed people" (Preston 22). The doctors on duty were busy and were probably tending to other patients when Monet unfortunately crashed and bled out. In a moment like this, a medical professional has to make a decision, and a quick one at that. Not only was Ebola not that well known at the time, the hospital most likely lacked the high-tech resources to establish precautions of high standards to deal with an Ebola victim. Records of dealing with an Ebola victim were nonexistent at the time, seeing how this is actually the time when Ebola first started peeking out of the vortex of death. Was the doctor a bit negligent about his hygiene, potentially risking his life and the life of others? Yes, but the circumstances make his negligence somewhat justifiable.
DeleteIt has to be taken into consideration that the moment during which Monet walked into the hospital, it was "jammed with bleary-eyed people" (Preston 22). The doctors on duty were busy and were probably tending to other patients when Monet unfortunately crashed and bled out. In a moment like this, a medical professional has to make a decision, and a quick one at that. Not only was Ebola not that well known at the time, the hospital most likely lacked the high-tech resources to establish precautions of high standards to deal with an Ebola victim. Records of dealing with an Ebola victim were nonexistent at the time, seeing how this is actually the time when Ebola first started peeking out of the vortex of death. Was the doctor a bit negligent about his hygiene, potentially risking his life and the life of others? Yes, but the circumstances make his negligence somewhat justifiable.
DeleteHi Nishrat, what is an icosahedral? How do you think this shape helps the virus attach to its host? Can you also research a few viral surface proteins (possibly for ebola if this have this information) that helps it attach to human cells?
DeleteAn icosahedral is a type of capsid of a virus. The shape is asymmetric and each phase of the virus is a triangle with “three subunits per face and has 12 pentameters” (Wikipedia). This shape of the virus helps it attach to its host because the symmetry of the shape allows for the “lowest-energy configuration of particles” (The Origin of Icosahedral Symmetry in Viruses) to the surface of the host. The virus has certain proteins on its capsid that allows it attach to the cell’s receptors, successfully infecting it. For Ebola, the viral surface protein, glycoprotein (GP), mediates a recognition of the host cell which “drives fusion of the viral and host membranes” (Lee 2008) and causes Ebola to get by from immune surveillance. Antibodies that neutralize the virus are very rare because there are few sites to where they could bind.
Delete