Virus

Introduction

• A virus is a micro infectious agent, which is found as parasite in the living cells of other organisms.
• Virus replicates swiftly inside the living cells of other organisms.
• Virus is a Latin term meaning ‘poison’ and other ‘noxious’ liquids.
• Viruses can infect any type of life forms, ranging from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea.

• The study of viruses is known as virology.
• Virus is first discovered by Dmitri Ivanovsky in 1892.
• Virus has the properties of living as well non-living.
• One of the living properties is – virus has either DNA or RNA (never both).
• One of the non-living properties is – virus has no protoplasm.

Types of Virus

• Based on parasitic nature, virus is categorized as −
  • Animal Virus
  • Plant Virus
  • Bacterial Virus
  • Archaeal Virus

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Viral Diseases in Human Being

• Following are the list of diseases caused by virus in Human beings −
  • Chickenpox
  • Encephalitis
  • Influenza (or Flu)
  • Herpes (skin disease)
  • Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV/AIDS)
  • Human papillomavirus (HPV)
  • Infectious mononucleosis
  • Mumps (measles and rubella)
  • Shingles
  • Viral gastroenteritis (stomach flu)
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Viral meningitis
  • Viral pneumonia

Viral Diseases in Plants

• Following are the list of diseases caused by virus in plants −
  • Peanut – Stunt Virus
  • Maize – Mosaic Virus
  • Lettuce – Mosaic Virus
  • Cauliflower – Mosaic Virus
  • Sugarcane – Mosaic Virus
  • Cucumber – Mosaic Virus
  • Tobacco – Mosaic Virus
  • Tomato – Twisted leaf disease
  • Lady finger – Yellow vein mosaic

Viral Diseases in Animals

• Following are the list of diseases caused by virus in animals −
  • Cow – Herpes (Herpes virus)
  • Buffalo – Small pox (Poxverdi orthopox)
  • Dog – Rabies (Stereit virus)