Selome Tewoderos

 Virus Taxonomy and Description:               

Herpesviridae family ds DNA, linear, enveloped, icosahedral morphology

Power:           

 Rapid lytic replication cycle, causes both oral and genital herpes, can be  neurotropic (attacking the nervous system)

OFFENSE

Attack:         

 Turns off host protein synthesis, inhibits splicing of mRNA, blocks apoptosis, can hide genome in the nucleus of lymphoma and CNS cells

Outcome:       

 HSV encephalitis, increases the chance of HIV transmission, can be fatal in immunocompromised individuals

Speed:            1-14 days

DEFENSE

Vaccine:         Vaccine in trial but has shown to be effective for HSV 2

Behavioral:     Safe sex (condoms, dental dams), avoid touching cold sore, use of gloves in clinical settings

Treatment:    Nucleaosidic inhibitors such as Acyclovir to treat and suppress lesions

Game Action

Tag team with HIV to plot a massive ambush attack on T-cell immunity

One liner

“A long kiss from a distant lover is sure to stay with you forever even in the cold winter nights”

Picture courtesy of: www.astrosurf.com/lombry/bioastro-originevie5.htm

Selome Tewoderos

 Virus Taxonomy and Description: Papillomaviridae family ds DNA, naked, spherical, icosahedral morphology

 Power:          

Can be transmitted to infants from infected mother during pregnancy causing laryngeal papillomatosis, not known to be oncogenic 

OFFENSE

 Attack:                  

The virus integrates its DNA becoming episomal in epithelial cells, uses the cell polymerase to replicate, affect the cell-mediated immune response

 Outcome:        Genital warts shapped like cauliflower,

 Speed:            A few weeks to a year

DEFENSE

 Vaccine:   

Available vaccine, debate on whether men or women should be targeted

 Behavioral:     

Pap smears are best to detect HPV, female condoms might provide better protection from skin-to-skin contact, monogamy,

 Treatment:    

Freezing the warts with liquid Nitrogen, repeated treatment with Podofilox to chemically damages the wart, Imiquimod to stimulate the body's immune system, surgery to treat early cancer.

Game Action

The person with the card has to come up with three viruses that resemble the shape of any fruits or vegetables 

One Liner

“Honey, I bought some frozen cauliflowers from Wart-mart”

Picture courtesy of: bilbo.bio.purdue.edu/.../hpv_1L1L2.html

Selome Tewoderos

 Virus Taxonomy and Description:    Orthomyxoviridae family ss RNA, enveloped, pleomorphic, helical nucleocapsid morphology  Power:   

High mutation rate, causes sever morbidity and mortality among elderly

OFFENSE

 Attacks:  

mainly damages columnar epithelial cells in the nasopharynx, hemagglutinin viral proteins bind to sialic acid facilitating penetration of cell and viral replication.

 Outcome:  

Cardiopulmonary and upper respiratory complications including pneumonia

 Speed:      1-2 days

DEFENSE

 Vaccines: 

Current vaccine made from purified and formalin-inactivated viruses that are grown in embryonated chicken eggs, annual vaccination is recommended due to high mutation of the    virus

 Behavioral:    

Cover mouth while sneezing, frequent hand washing, quit smoking, and maintain a healthy lifestyle

 Treatment:

Prophylactic antiviral medications such as rimantadine or amantadine

Game Action

The player with the influenza card should pick vaccination card every round and do the chicken dance

One Liner

“An influential virus like you should only travel by air”

Picture courtesy of:

http://www.amicopediatra.it/genitori/Vaccinazioni/Vaccinazioni-influenza.htm