Glossary of virology

Glossary of Virology

Virology (pronounced: /vaɪˈrɒlədʒi/), from the Latin virus meaning poison and Greek -logia meaning study of, is the scientific study of viruses and virus-like agents, including their taxonomy, disease-producing properties, cultivation and genetics. It is often considered a part of microbiology or pathology.

A

Attenuation (pronounced: /əˌtɛn.juˈeɪ.ʃən/) in virology refers to the process of reducing the virulence of a virus, often for the purpose of creating a vaccine. The term comes from the Latin attenuare meaning to thin or weaken.

B

Bacteriophage (pronounced: /bækˈtɪər.i.oʊˌfeɪdʒ/) is a type of virus that infects and replicates within bacteria. The term is derived from bacteria and the Greek phagein meaning to devour.

C

Capsid (pronounced: /ˈkæp.sɪd/) is the protein shell of a virus. It comes from the Latin capsa meaning box, referring to the capsid's role in containing the viral genome.

D

DNA virus (pronounced: /ˌdiːˌenˈeɪ ˈvaɪrəs/) is a virus that has DNA as its genetic material and replicates using a DNA-dependent DNA polymerase.

E

Endemic (pronounced: /ɛnˈdɛmɪk/) in virology refers to the constant presence of a disease or infectious agent within a given geographic area or population group.

F

Fomite (pronounced: /ˈfoʊmaɪt/) is any inanimate object that, when contaminated with or exposed to infectious agents, can transfer disease to a new host.

G

Genome (pronounced: /ˈdʒiː.noʊm/) in virology refers to the complete set of genes or genetic material present in a virus.

H

Host (pronounced: /hoʊst/) in virology is an organism that harbors a parasitic, a mutualistic, or a commensalist guest, the guest typically being a virus.

I

Immunodeficiency (pronounced: /ɪˌmjuːnoʊdɪˈfɪʃənsi/) is a state in which the immune system's ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent.

J

Junctional diversity (pronounced: /ˈdʒʌŋkʃənəl daɪˈvɜːrsɪti/) is a mechanism of diversification in the immune system that results in a large number of different specific immune receptors.

K

Koch's postulates (pronounced: /kɔx/) are four criteria designed to establish a causative relationship between a microbe and a disease.

L

Latent virus (pronounced: /ˈleɪtənt ˈvaɪrəs/) is a phase in the life cycle of certain viruses during which after initial infection, the virus is dormant.

M

Mutation (pronounced: /mjuːˈteɪʃən/) is a change in the nucleotide sequence of the genome of an organism or virus.

N

Nucleocapsid (pronounced: /ˌnjuːklɪˈkæpsɪd/) is the capsid of a virus with the enclosed nucleic acid.

O

Oncovirus (pronounced: /ˈɒŋkoʊˌvaɪrəs/) is a virus that can cause cancer.

P

Pathogen (pronounced: /ˈpæθədʒən/) is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.

Q

Quasispecies (pronounced: /ˈkweɪzaɪˌspiːʃiːz/) is a group of viruses related by a similar mutation or mutations, competing within a larger population.

R

Retrovirus (pronounced: /ˈrɛtrəʊˌvaɪrəs/) is a type of RNA virus that inserts a copy of its genome into the DNA of a host cell that it invades, thus changing the genome of that cell.

S

Serotype (pronounced: /ˈsɪərəʊˌtaɪp/) is a group of microorganisms characterized by a distinct set of antigens.

T

Tropism (pronounced: /ˈtroʊpɪzəm/) in virology refers to the cell and tissue types that a virus can infect.

U

Uncoating (pronounced: /ʌnˈkoʊtɪŋ/) is the process in the replication of viruses in which the viral capsid is removed and destroyed, releasing the viral genome for replication.

V

Viremia (pronounced: /ˌvaɪˈriːmiə/) is a medical condition where viruses enter the bloodstream and hence have access to the rest of the body.

W

Wild type (pronounced: /ˈwaɪld ˈtaɪp/) in virology refers to the phenotype of the typical form of a species as it occurs in nature.

X

Xenotransplantation (pronounced: /ˌzenoʊˌtrænsplænˈteɪʃən/) is the transplantation of living cells, tissues or organs from one species to another.

Y

Yield (pronounced: /jiːld/) in virology refers to the total number of virions produced by a single infected cell.

Z

Zoonosis (pronounced: /ˌzoʊəˈnoʊsɪs/) is an infectious disease caused by a pathogen that has jumped from an animal to a human.

External links

• Medical encyclopedia article on Glossary of virology
• Wikipedia's article - Glossary of virology

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