Use the search feature to find content (and happiness!)

Viruses

Virus Are Not Alive

Cell vs Virus

Battling HIV

Viral Replication

Watch on Youtube

What Does "Alive" Mean?

Viruses are not considered to be alive because they cannot carry out life processes on their own. They need a living host to replicate. Some biologists may disagree.

Basic Virus Structure

A virus is made of DNA or RNA surrounded by a protein coat, also called a "capsid."

Lytic Cycle of a Virus

Since viruses cannot replicate by themselves, they invade living cells and force those cells to make new viruses. Lytic means burst or destruction of cells.

After the new viruses are made, the host cell usually dies.

Rest and Recover

Once you have a virus, your immune system must fight it, and in many cases people recover, especially with rest, fluids, and medical care.

Antibiotics do not work against viruses, so they cannot be used to treat viral infections.

There are some drugs that can be used to interrupt viral duplication. This is called antiviral therapy.

Some Famous Viruses:

DNA Viruses vs RNA Viruses

RNA viruses are less stable and mutate often, allowing them to change quickly; Ebola is an RNA virus, which is why it can mutate so rapidly.

DNA viruses are more stable and mutate less often, which makes them easier to control with vaccines in some cases.

Comparing Viruses and Bacteria

Bacteria are free-living cells that can live inside or outside a body.

Viruses are a non-living collection of molecules that need a host cell to replicate.

Virus Shapes!

Ebola is a thread virus, or filovirus.

Ebola is an RNA virus, which is why it can mutate so rapidly.

Some Diseases Caused by Viruses!

Chickenpox is a common viral infection that causes itchy red spots and can be prevented with a vaccine.
Common Cold is caused by several viruses, usually mild, and leads to sneezing, runny nose, and sore throat.
Ebola Virus is a dangerous RNA virus that causes severe fever, bleeding, and can spread quickly in outbreaks.
Hanta Virus is a virus carried by rodents that can cause serious lung disease in humans if inhaled.
Hepatitis is a virus that infects the liver and can cause serious liver damage or yellowing of the skin and eyes.
HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system, making it harder to fight infections, and can lead to AIDS if untreated.
Influenza (Flu) is a contagious virus that causes fever, body aches, and fatigue, and annual vaccines help prevent it.
Measles is a highly contagious virus that causes fever, a red rash, and can be prevented with a vaccine.
Mumps is a virus that causes swelling of the salivary glands, fever, and can be prevented with a vaccine.
Poliomyelitis (Polio) is a virus that can cause paralysis, and Jonas Salk developed the first effective polio vaccine in 1955.
Rabies is a virus spread through animal bites that attacks the nervous system and is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but a vaccine can prevent it.
Smallpox was a deadly virus that caused large outbreaks for centuries, but Edward Jenner created the first vaccine in 1796, which eventually helped wipe it out.

Report abuse