Question

Hepatitis B Virus:

1. Describe the viral architecture

2. Nucleic acid composition

3. Enveloped or non-enveloped?

4. Host(s)? How does the virus gain entrance to host?

5. Mode of transmission(s)?

6. Organ System(s) affected?

7. Symptoms of viral disease.

8. Treatments?

9. Acute or persistent infection and why?

Answer 1

Ans 1-

• HEPATITIS B, is a serious liver infection caused by the Hepatitis B VIRUS( HBV) virus.
• IT basically comprises of both single and double stranded DNA genome.
• The virus pocesses two shells.   

Ans2-

• the nucleic acid contains a double stranded DNA genome/virus.

Ans 3-

• HBV is an enveloped virus
• the virus has an icosahedral capsid,which is like a crystal structure,formed by 'C' proteins & has a diameter of 36nm.

Ans4-

• Humans are the most common hosts. It gains entrance through the liver cell

Ans 5-

• Most commonly, the spread of the virus is through body fluids like blood & semen.
• It also spreads from a infected mother to child during birth.
• Having sexual intercourse with an infected partner or vise versa.
• getting pricked accidently by an infected person's syringe needle.

Ans 6-

• the primary organ affrected is the liver.

Ans7- symptoms include>

• fatigue
• joint pain
• jaundice( yellowish discolouration of skin ,urine,eyes. )
• fever
• light coloured stools
• pain in the stomach

Ans8 - treatement regimen>

• taking antiviral medication.
• taking vaccine well before ,if susceptable to getting infected.
• drinking plenty of fluids
• adequate rest is a must
• in highly serious conditions like liver cirrhosis or cancer, a liver transplant is recommended.

Ans9-

• acute HBV is a short term illness
• age is also a deciding factor in the seriosness of the infection ,once affected.
• in patients with persistant infection, proper care should be taken to not cause further liver damage thruough excessive alcoholism etc.. as its may lead to liver tissue death and may futher need a transplantation.