Origins and Discovery of Viruses

Summary:

The Origins and Discovery of Viruses note discusses viruses, their origins, general characteristics, and structure. The word “virus” originates from the Latin “vios,” meaning liquid poison. Viruses are microscopic particles that cannot be separated by bacterial filters and are acellular organisms. The discovery of the first virus occurred in 1892 when a scientist found a virus causing tobacco mosaic disease in plants. In 1898, it was named an infectious liquid by Beijirink. In 1989, Loafer and Frosch discovered animal viruses related to diseases in the mouth and legs of animals. In 1915, another type of virus impacting bacteria, called bacteriophage, was discovered.

General characteristics of viruses include a size ranging from 10 to 350 nanometers. They exist in an inactive phase outside living cells and have genetic material covered with capsid protein. Viruses are obligate parasites, multiplying only in the cytoplasm of host cells, and cannot be cultured on artificial media. Some viruses, like HIV and herpes, have protein analogues covered with a lipid envelope. Viruses are host-specific, affecting either plant or animal cells. They are also resistant to antibiotics and can be precipitated in ethyl alcohol and acetone. Viruses can become inactive through treatment with UV, pyridine, urea, and H2O2.

The nature of viruses includes nucleoprotein particles that require a living host cell for their survival. They possess both biological and non-biological qualities. The structure of viruses consists of nucleic acid and a capsid envelope. Viruses vary in size and shape, ranging from rounded, spherical, long rod-shaped, gun-shaped, T-shaped, to cube-shaped.

Excerpt:

Origins and Discovery of Viruses

Virus
Virus words originate from the Latin language world (VIOS); the meaning of this word is liquid poison. Viruses are microparticles as compared to bacteria that bacterial filters can’t separate. Viruses are acellular organisms. 1892 you wanted to work and discovered a virus in a tobacco mosaic disease-infected plant. He extracted the liquid of interacted part and filtered it through a bacterial filter, but he couldn’t obtain any microbes. In 1898 Beijirink named it an infectious liquid. In 1989 loafer and Frosch discovered the virus in animals’ mouths and legs related disease. In 1915 part and Haralay discovered another type of virus that impact bacteria named bacteriophage.