Virus Functions, Evolution, and Host Range
Colin Parrish

Viruses are widespread and infect all types of animals, but they generally have defined host ranges which are often controlled by their abilities to bind to cell receptors and infect cells.

In this exploration we will discuss the nature of viruses – the forms that they come in, how they spread and infect cells, and how host range is controlled. The specific example we will discuss is canine parvovirus, which emerged about 20 years ago as a new virus of dogs, apparently by learning to bind to a canine cell receptor. We will discuss the detailed structure of the virus shell and the cellular pathways that virus uses to infect cells. Participants will be able to examine the structure of the capsid in 3D, and examine the entry of the virus into cells using confocal fluorescence microscopy.