Understanding Viruses and Their Impact on Human Health

The term "virus," which means "poison" in Latin, does a good job of living up to its name. Viruses affect all living organisms and can remain dormant for long periods of time until an appropriate host comes along.

History

• When the electron microscope was invented in the 1940s, scientists got their first look at viruses and saw protein-wrapped packages of genetic material.

Identification

• Fabio Romerio of the Institute of Human Virology noted that a virus is not a living organism like a bacteria or fungus. "It's simply a well-organized molecular parasite," he explained.

Function

• When a virus attaches itself to a host cell, it programs that cell to follow genetic commands that replicate the virus over and over. If the virus is associated with a particular disease, the person may develop symptoms right away or after some time.

Effect

• An HIV virus may cause AIDS, an H1N1 virus replicates itself until the individual has flu-like symptoms, and a large number of viruses cause the all-too-familiar symptoms of the common cold.

Tip

• While there are a limited number of anti-viral medications targeting specific viruses, your best protection may be immunizations. According to the World Health Organization, for example, the vaccinia virus has eradicated smallpox around the globe.