MICROBIOLOGY A SYSTEMS APPROACH 7
2026 ASSESSMENT SCRIPT DETAILED
RESPONSES COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
◉ capsomeres.
Answer: - identical protein subunits that spontaneously self
assemble to form the capsid
helical capsid- rod-shaped capsomeres that form a continuous helix
around the nucleic acid
icosahedral capsid- three-dimensional, 20-sided figure with 12
evenly spaced corners
◉ complex capsids.
Answer: have multiple types of proteins, shape is non-symmetrical
found in bacteriophages
◉ bacteriophage.
Answer: viruses that invade bacteria
,-discovered in 1915 by Frederick Twort and Felix d'Herelle
-parasitize every known bacterial species
-often make the bacteria they infect more pathogenic for humans
◉ viral envelope.
Answer: cell membrane or nuclear membrane.
regular membrane proteins are replaced with viral proteins.
spikes: protruding glycoproteins essential for attachment to the host
cell.
◉ viruses contain DNA OR RNA.
Answer: •The number of viral genes is small compared to that of a
cell•Possess only the genes necessary to invade host cells and
redirect their activity
◉ genome.
Answer: the full complement of DNA and RNA carried by a cell
◉ positive-sense RNA.
Answer: single-stranded RNA genomes ready for immediate
translation into proteins
◉ negative-sense RNA.
, Answer: RNA genomes that need to be converted into the proper
form to be made into proteins
◉ reverse transcriptase.
Answer: synthesizes DNA from RNA
◉ What is the protein shell that surrounds a viral genome called?.
Answer: Capsid
◉ True/False: Viruses can be seen with a light microscope..
Answer: False - need an electron microscope
◉ Viral capsids are constructed from ________ subunits..
Answer: structural, capsomere
◉ Describe the structures of icosahedral, helical, and complex
viruses..
Answer: helical capsid- rod-shaped capsomeres that form a
continuous helix around the nucleic acid
icosahedral capsid- three-dimensional, 20-sided figure with 12
evenly spaced corners
2026 ASSESSMENT SCRIPT DETAILED
RESPONSES COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW
◉ capsomeres.
Answer: - identical protein subunits that spontaneously self
assemble to form the capsid
helical capsid- rod-shaped capsomeres that form a continuous helix
around the nucleic acid
icosahedral capsid- three-dimensional, 20-sided figure with 12
evenly spaced corners
◉ complex capsids.
Answer: have multiple types of proteins, shape is non-symmetrical
found in bacteriophages
◉ bacteriophage.
Answer: viruses that invade bacteria
,-discovered in 1915 by Frederick Twort and Felix d'Herelle
-parasitize every known bacterial species
-often make the bacteria they infect more pathogenic for humans
◉ viral envelope.
Answer: cell membrane or nuclear membrane.
regular membrane proteins are replaced with viral proteins.
spikes: protruding glycoproteins essential for attachment to the host
cell.
◉ viruses contain DNA OR RNA.
Answer: •The number of viral genes is small compared to that of a
cell•Possess only the genes necessary to invade host cells and
redirect their activity
◉ genome.
Answer: the full complement of DNA and RNA carried by a cell
◉ positive-sense RNA.
Answer: single-stranded RNA genomes ready for immediate
translation into proteins
◉ negative-sense RNA.
, Answer: RNA genomes that need to be converted into the proper
form to be made into proteins
◉ reverse transcriptase.
Answer: synthesizes DNA from RNA
◉ What is the protein shell that surrounds a viral genome called?.
Answer: Capsid
◉ True/False: Viruses can be seen with a light microscope..
Answer: False - need an electron microscope
◉ Viral capsids are constructed from ________ subunits..
Answer: structural, capsomere
◉ Describe the structures of icosahedral, helical, and complex
viruses..
Answer: helical capsid- rod-shaped capsomeres that form a
continuous helix around the nucleic acid
icosahedral capsid- three-dimensional, 20-sided figure with 12
evenly spaced corners
