Viruses

• Microbiology is the study of microorganisms… AKA microbes

• Studies microbes such as: • Virus • Bacteria• Fungi• Parasites

• Microbes are living organisms that cannot be seen without a microscope.

• Pathogens are microbes that cause disease.

Microbiology

A virus is a pathogen that consists of microscopic core of genetic material surrounded by a protein coating

Virus HIV Virus

• They DO NOT eat or grow

• They DO NOT do any chemical process

• They DO NOT respond to light or stimuli

• Antibiotics DO NOT work on Virus; there is no drug to cure any virus

Facts About Viruses

• They are smaller than bacteria, plant and animal cells

• They come in thousands of shapes

• They replicate using the lytic and lysogenic cycle

• They are able to infect organisms through carriers, air, touch and vectors

• Vaccines can prevent some virus from infecting

More Facts about Viruses

• Viruses invade a host and replicate and kill the host’s cells

• A carrier is an infected person-can show the signs of the disease or not for example HIV infected person

• A vector is an organism (except for humans) that can spread a disease for example: • Tick-Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and

Lyme's Disease• Mosquito- West Nile Virus and Malaria• Flea-Black Plague

Even more Facts about Viruses

• Chicken Pox~ Direct contact, airborne, there is a vaccine

• Aids~ Sexual contact, blood transfusions, there is NO a vaccine

• Influenza (flu)~ Direct contact, airborne, there is some vaccines, but there are many different strains

• Measles~ Direct contact, airborne, vaccines exists

Common Viruses

• Smallpox~ Direct contact, airborne, people under 40 have not had been vaccinated

• Herpes~ Direct contact, no vaccines

• Bacteriophage~ Direct contact, no vaccines

• West Nile Virus~ 1st time through vector then direct contact, airborne, no vaccine (birds)

Common Viruses

Polio~ Direct contact, vaccines

Hepatitis~ Direct contact, vaccines

Swine Flu~ Direct contact, airborne, vaccines

Common Viruses