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
1st-known human case of H5N2 bird flu remains under investigation
By Nicoletta Lanese last updated
A man in Mexico died after catching the world's first laboratory-confirmed case of H5N2 bird flu in humans. However, authorities think he likely died of existing conditions, rather than the infection itself.
Gen Xers will have higher cancer rates than boomers, study forecasts
By Emily Cooke published
A new modeling study predicts that cancer rates in people over 60 may be rising among successive generations.
Immunotherapy to treat cancer gave rise to 2nd cancer in extremely rare case
By Miriam Bergeret published
Although very rare, past reports show some cancer patients may develop secondary cancers following lifesaving CAR T-cell therapy.
DNA from dozens of human skeletons unravels history of malaria
By Michael Schubert published
Malaria is often considered a tropical disease, but data hidden in historical human remains has shed new light on the parasite's world travels.
H5N1: What to know about the bird flu cases in cows, goats and people
By Nicoletta Lanese last updated
Bird flu in cows and goats has raised alarm in the U.S. To date, three people are thought to have caught the virus from cattle, but the risk to the general public is low.
Rare fungal STI spotted in US for the 1st time
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A difficult-to-treat form of ringworm can spread via sex and has now been seen in the U.S.
Salmonella outbreak tied to cucumbers sickens 162
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A company that ships whole cucumbers from Florida has recalled potentially contaminated produce.
'Increased evidence that we should be alert': H5N1 bird flu is adapting to mammals in 'new ways'
By Stephanie Pappas published
New research in marine mammals suggests the virus is increasingly adapting to mammalian hosts.
Latest human H5N1 bird flu case in US is 1st to cause respiratory symptoms
By Nicoletta Lanese published
This infection, tied to an ongoing outbreak in cows, is the first in the U.S. to cause respiratory symptoms, but not the first H5N1 case in the world to do so.
A woman kept getting drunk despite not drinking. Fungi in her gut were brewing their own alcohol.
By Nicoletta Lanese published
A woman kept mysteriously getting drunk despite not consuming alcohol. Turns out, a rare condition called "auto-brewery syndrome" was to blame.
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