Summary of major viral pathogens and clinical manifestations

1. Viral Class
(Genome
and Capsid)
Family:
Genus
Genome Molecular Characteristics Disease/Symptoms Treatment
dsDNA
Icosahedral
Naked
Adenoviridae:
Adenovirus
dsDNA,
linear
nuclear
Respiratory infection, conjunctivitis, febrile
pharyngitis, gastroenteritis, myocarditis lead to
Hemorrhagic cystitis, lethal atypical pneumonia
Papillomaviridae:
HPV
dsDNA, circular
nuclear
Lower serotypes: genital warts
Higher (16, 18): cervical cancer (malignant
transformation)
Polyomaviridae:
BK Virus
JC Virus
dsDNA, circular
nuclear
JC latent in kidney/BM BK: kidney transplant
JC: immunosuppressed PML (Progressive
Leukoencephalopathy = CNS demyelinating
disease)
Hepadnaviridae:
HBV (HepB)
Partial dsDNA
nuclear
*unique- contains RT
dsDNA
Icosahedral
Envelope
Herpesvirdae:
Alpha: HSV, VZV
dsDNA,
circular
nuclear
HSV1: oral, latent in trigeminal
ganglia
HSV2: genital, latent in sacral
ganglia
VZV: latent in dorsal sensory
root/trigeminal ganglia shingles
HSV1: acute gingivotomatitis herpes labialis
Herpesviridae:
Beta: HHV, CMV
HHV 8: endothelial cells/vasculator
CMV : Myeloid precursor
(monocyte/macrophages)
HHV6/7: Roseola (6th
disease) high fever,
macular rash
HHV8: Kaposi Sarcoma (AIDS/transplant)
CMV: pneumonia, esophagitis, retinisitis, mono
Congenital CMV : retinitis, hearing loss, seizure,
microcephaly, “blueberry muffin” rash
Herpesviridae:
Gamma: EBV
EBV: CD21 (B cells) Mononucleosis nasopharyngeal carcinoma,
lymphomas (malignant transformation)
Poxviridae:
Variola (smallpox),
Cowpox,
Molluscum
contagiosum
dsDNA
*CYTOSOLIC

2. ssDNA Parvoviridae:
B19
*ssDNA
nuclear
VAP: P antigen infects RBC Pediatric: Erythema infectiosum (5th
disease)
“slapped cheek” rash, neonates fetal hydrops
(edema)
Adult: acute polyarthritis, RBC aplasia (sickle cell
anemia)
ssRNA (+)
Icosahedral
Linear
Naked
Picornaviridae:
Rhinovirus
Poliovirus
Rhinovirus: respiratory infection, otitis media,
sinusitis
ssRNA (+)
Icosahedral
Linear
Envelope
Coronaviridae:
SARS, MERS,
COVID-10
Flaviviridae:
Flavivirus: Hep C,
Denge/Yellow
Fever, West Nile
RETROVIRIDAE:
Lentivirus=
HIV/AIDS
ssRNA (-)
Helical
Envelope
Circular
Deltaviridae: HepD
ssRNA (-)
Helical
Envelope
Linear
Orthomyxoviridae:
Influenza
Segmented HA (Hemagglutinin) is VAP binds
sialic acid sugars on respiratory
tract epidethlial cells
NA: Neuraminidase: cleaves sialic
acid sugars, required for budding
(exit)
Respiratory virus: Fever, cough, myalgia, nausea
Paramyxoviridae:
Morbillivirus
(Measles)
Rubulavirus
(mumps)
Measles:
Respiratory virus
Classic Triad (3C’s): cough, conjunctivitis, coryza,
fever, rash. Koplik spots (red spot white center oral
mucosa)
Mumps: no rash, fever, swollen parotid glands
Rhabdoviridae:
Lyssavirus
(Rabies)
dsRNA Reoviridae:
Rotavirus
dsRNA
naked
segmented
GI virus: fever, watery diarrhea, vomiting