From M2slo2cht from gmail.com Tue Aug 4 22:54:48 2009 From: M2slo2cht from gmail.com (M2) Date: Tue Aug 4 23:27:51 2009 Subject: [Virology] When a Herpes Simplex Virus "dies" Message-ID: I'm a layman with a question. I've been told that a Herpes Simplex Virus dies almost immediately when it sloughs off the surface of the skin. But I've also been told that a virus isn't actually a living organism. So my question is, what actually happens to HSV when it "dies"? I've always assumed it's envelope disintegrates and it simply falls apart and disappears.. Am I close? Thanks in advance From M.Dunowska from massey.ac.nz Wed Aug 5 16:49:54 2009 From: M.Dunowska from massey.ac.nz (Dunowska, Magda) Date: Wed Aug 5 16:58:29 2009 Subject: [Virology] RE: When a Herpes Simplex Virus "dies" (M2) In-Reply-To: <200908051704.n75H4Cp16587@net.bio.net> References: <200908051704.n75H4Cp16587@net.bio.net> Message-ID: <92FDFD8B26EB6542B1E1BF017BB998D162DD31E321@TUR-EXCHMBX.massey.ac.nz> The viruses are not really "alive", as the only way they can replicate themselves is by hijacking the cellular machinery of the host. In order to do this, they need to be able to enter the cells. This is a complicated process and typically glycoproteins present in the envelope of enveloped viruses (such as herpesviruses) play a role in this step. So, damage to the envelope would result in the inability of the virus to enter the cell and therefore the virus would be considered "dead" as it cannot propagate itself any longer. It may still "look" like an infectious virus, e.g. has the typical herpesviral structure under electron microscope, but pretty much what's remaining is a mixture of viral proteins, lipids and sugars, which in time would "disappear" as any organic matter does... This is why enveloped viruses are typically pretty fragile and do not survive well outside their hosts - most of them can be easily "killed" with common disinfectants. In general, they also do not survive well drying or heating (e.g. sunlight), but may retain their ability to infect new hosts for longer (e.g. days) in the dark, humid environment (e.g. a cave, a shaded water trough etc). Magda Dunowska, LW (vet), PhD Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Infectious Diseases (Virology) Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences Te Kura Mātauranga Kararehe Massey University Palmerston North New Zealand Phone : (06) 356-9099 ext 7571 Website : http://ivabs.massey.ac.nz -----Original Message----- From: virology-bounces@oat.bio.indiana.edu [mailto:virology-bounces@oat.bio.indiana.edu] On Behalf Of virology-request@oat.bio.indiana.edu Sent: Thursday, 6 August 2009 5:04 a.m. To: virology@magpie.bio.indiana.edu Subject: Virology Digest, Vol 39, Issue 1 Send Virology mailing list submissions to virology@net.bio.net To subscribe or unsubscribe via the World Wide Web, visit http://www.bio.net/biomail/listinfo/virology or, via email, send a message with subject or body 'help' to virology-request@net.bio.net You can reach the person managing the list at virology-owner@net.bio.net When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific than "Re: Contents of Virology digest..." Today's Topics: 1. When a Herpes Simplex Virus "dies" (M2) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Message: 1 Date: Tue, 04 Aug 2009 22:54:48 -0500 From: M2 Subject: [Virology] When a Herpes Simplex Virus "dies" To: bionet-virology@moderators.isc.org Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I'm a layman with a question. I've been told that a Herpes Simplex Virus dies almost immediately when it sloughs off the surface of the skin. But I've also been told that a virus isn't actually a living organism. So my question is, what actually happens to HSV when it "dies"? I've always assumed it's envelope disintegrates and it simply falls apart and disappears.. Am I close? Thanks in advance ------------------------------ _______________________________________________ Virology mailing list Virology@net.bio.net http://www.bio.net/biomail/listinfo/virology End of Virology Digest, Vol 39, Issue 1 *************************************** From mingzh from lanl.gov Thu Aug 6 18:06:18 2009 From: mingzh from lanl.gov (mingzh) Date: Thu Aug 6 18:12:00 2009 Subject: [Virology] high/low pathogenicity of flu virus In-Reply-To: References: Message-ID: Dear all, I have a very naive question... How to classify high and low pathogenicity of influenza viruses? And where can I obtain such a list of each category? Thanks in advance! Ming == Ming Zhang T-6/CNLS, K710 Los Alamos National Lab Los Alamos, NM 87544