Virus Tips

[joecole]

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Any tips on how to study for viruses? I've been through micro in Kaplan and FA and am having a torrid time trying to remember all the different characteristics for each virus (positive/negative strand, naked, family, etc). Even the mnemonics in FA/kaplan make it more confusing!

The only reason I am able to get the questions right is because I am able to use the clinical data to decipher what the answer will be. But for some questions that don't give much clinical data on the patient I find it difficult to work out an answer. For people who have taken the exam already how are the questions on that for viruses - do they give enough clues?

Thanks!

 

[512TA]

Any tips on how to study for viruses? I've been through micro in Kaplan and FA and am having a torrid time trying to remember all the different characteristics for each virus (positive/negative strand, naked, family, etc). Even the mnemonics in FA/kaplan make it more confusing!

The only reason I am able to get the questions right is because I am able to use the clinical data to decipher what the answer will be. But for some questions that don't give much clinical data on the patient I find it difficult to work out an answer. For people who have taken the exam already how are the questions on that for viruses - do they give enough clues?

Thanks!

look for the mnemonics in the table (kaplan)

there are two of them for RNA viruses (negative and positive strand respectively)

Pain Results From Our Bunyas Always

and

Call Pico and Flavi To Come Right Away

Use Fa's HHAPPPPy for DNA viruses.

 

[Chemist0157]

At the very least, I'm trying to perfectly memorize it in halves. For instance, if I know all the RNA- viruses really well, then by default I can identify the RNA+ viruses. The same goes for enveloped vs. non-enveloped. The strategy works well, but this is really just for certain questions though; it won't help if they give you a clinical scenario and have to ID by the presentation. Personally, that seems like the easier part anyways; it's knowing which are non-enveloped RNA+ for instance that trips me up more often.

 

[Day man]

http://www2.uic.edu/stud_orgs/prof/M2/courses/microbiology/micro_mnemonics.pdf

Stupid, but helpful.

 

[joecole]

Thanks for the help everyone.

 

[Torr]

look for the mnemonics in the table (kaplan)

there are two of them for RNA viruses (negative and positive strand respectively)

Pain Results From Our Bunyas Always

and

Call Pico and Flavi To Come Right Away

Use Fa's HHAPPPPy for DNA viruses.

Other than HHAPPPy I didn't have many mnemonics to go off of for this stuff when I was studying viruses.🙁

Here's pretty much what you've already provided but with minor add on's
that might help.

DNA viruses: HHAPPPy (hepadna, herpes, adeno, parvo, papova, pox) out of which PAP are naked, think of naked woman for pap smear: papova, adeno, parvo

positive RNA: Call Pico and Flow To Come Rightaway (calici, picorna, flavi, toga, corona, retro) out of which REPICA are naked (reo, picorna, calici)

negative RNA: Pain Results From Our Bunions Always (paramixo, rhabdo, filo, orthomyxo, bunya, arena) out of which all are enveloped and helical (the only other helical is corona)

 

[512TA]

.

 

[peanut11]

Brilliant help! Thanks!

 

[linkin06]

i need that whole set of for that visual mnemonic! it's great...is there more of them?

test friday 🙁

 

[drosenb3]

Here is a picture mnemonic I made for DNA Viruses. Not as good as the RNA one posted by Dayman (fighter of the Nightman, champion of of the Sun) but simple and useful if you hate the HHAPPPPPy mnemonic.