Virus
A virus is defined as any of a various number of submicroscopic parasites that can infect any animal, plant or bacteria and often lead to very serious or even deadly diseases. A virus consists of a core of RNA or DNA, generally surrounded by a protein, lipid or glycoprotein coat, or some combination of the three. No virus can replicate without the help of a host cell, and though they can be spread, viruses lack the ability of self-reproduction and are not always considered to be living organisms in the regular sense.Some of the most common or best known viruses include the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which is the virus that causes AIDS, the herpes simplex virus, which causes cold sores, smallpox, multiple sclerosis, and the human papilloma virus, now believed to be a leading cause of cervical cancer in adult women. The common human cold is also caused by a virus.Since a great deal of mystery still surrounds the origins of most modern viruses, ways to cure these viruses and the diseases they cause are still in the very early stages of development.
Explore Viruses, Infections & Disease
Latest about Viruses, Infections & Disease
Active ingredient in Viagra tied to lower Alzheimer's risk — but don't get too excited
By Emily Cooke published
Once more, sildenafil, the main active component of the "little blue pill," has been found to be associated with a reduced risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
21-year-old student dies of H5N1 bird flu in Vietnam
By Sascha Pare published
A man developed symptoms of fever earlier this month and tested positive for highly pathogenic avian influenza.
Hair-straightening cream tied to woman's repeated kidney damage
By Emily Cooke published
A woman developed kidney damage three times in two years after repeatedly visiting a salon for a hair-straightening treatment.
In world 1st, dairy cows in Texas and Kansas test positive for H5N1 bird flu
By Sascha Pare published
Unpasteurized milk samples and throat and nose swabs from cows on U.S. dairy farms have tested positive for bird flu, marking the second known cases in ruminants in the U.S.
New trial hints at a possible HIV cure approach: Wake up latent virus hiding in the body, then kill it
By Stephanie Pappas published
A clinical trial of a new method to activate and kill HIV in the body shows small success, but it's not yet a cure.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, announces cancer diagnosis
By Nicoletta Lanese published
The Princess of Wales, whose health status has recently been questioned by the media and public, has announced that she has cancer.
'Very concerning': Microplastics can accumulate in cancer cells and may help them spread, study hints
By Sneha Khedkar published
An early lab-dish study in cancer cells suggests microplastics can persist through cell division and may contribute to cancer spread, when they're in tumors.
Deadly dog parasite found in Southern California in a 1st
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A free-swimming worm that can infect and kill dogs has been found in the Colorado River near the California-Arizona border.
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