Poliovirus

WHAT IS IT?

The polio virus belongs to the picornavirus family. 

MOLECULAR CHARACTERISTICS

Genome:

  • RNA
  • Single stranded 
  • Linera
  • Positive strand 

Capsid:

  • Icosahedral 
TRANSMISSION

Fecal-oral transmission: Replicates in oropharynx and the small intestine before it spreads to bloodstream. From here it penetrates the CNS. 

CONDITIONS CAUSED

Poliomyelitis

VACCINE

Polio vaccine details: 

  • Salk vaccine: formalin-killed inactivated poliovirus. 
  • Sabin oral polio vaccine (OPV): live attenuates train 
OTHER HY FACTS
Page Updated: 05.04.2017