Why This Document Matters
This study guide is essential for students enrolled in MMBIO 465 who are preparing for their second midterm. It consolidates important information covered in lectures and readings, highlighting areas of emphasis for the exam. It’s most useful when used *in conjunction with* course notes, textbooks, and other learning materials. This guide exists to help students efficiently focus their study efforts.
Common Limitations or Challenges
This study guide is a *review* tool, not a substitute for comprehensive learning. It doesn’t provide in-depth explanations of all virological principles. Students should not rely solely on this guide to master the material; it’s intended to reinforce existing knowledge. It also does not contain practice questions or example problems.
What This Document Provides
This study guide includes:
* An overview of the three mechanisms generating viral diversity: mutations, recombination, and reassortment.
* A distinction between genetic drift and shift, including the processes driving each.
* An explanation of why viruses have high mutation rates.
* Differentiation between DNA recombination, RNA recombination, and genetic complementation.
* A list of virus families with segmented genomes (Orthomyxoviruses, Reoviruses, Arenaviruses, Bunyaviruses).
* An explanation of genetic reassortment and its occurrence with segmented genomes.
* Identification of main animal reservoirs of emerging human viruses (Bats, Birds, Rodents, Primates).
* Definitions of key terms related to virus-host interactions: productive, abortive, cytocidal, latent, permissive, semi-permissive, and non-permissive infections.
* Descriptions of cytopathic effects (CPE) and plaques.
* An overview of virus titer and methods for titering viruses (Plaque Assay, TCID50, ELISA, Q-PCR).
This preview does *not* include detailed explanations of the titering methods, diagrams illustrating CPE, or specific examples of viral mutations. It also does not include any practice questions or exam-specific hints.
