Biology Stack Exchange
Biology Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [virology]

Virology deals with the study of viruses, infectious entities that require the machinery of a host cell to replicate.

Virology deals with the study of viruses, infectious entities that require the machinery of a host cell to replicate.

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Virus cannot survive on surface after certain time period, but why and how?

I'm not a biology student at all, but I'm trying to get a clearer picture on what is meant by "virus cannot survive after a certain period". To my understanding, a virus cannot be killed it can only be inactivated (for example, by means of heat and…
Zarick Lau
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Isolation of viruses and Koch's Postulates in connection with terrain theory and claims that viruses don't exist

If, as a physicist, I were to be told that quarks have never been isolated, and so they are not actually real particles, it would take some effort to respond. I'd have to talk about the Standard Model and Asymptotic Freedom, and thus admit that…
Diagon
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Why do viruses last longer on hard surfaces, like glass, than porous ones

All the papers I've read about survival of viruses outside of the host refer to longer survival times on hard surfaces without explaination. As a layman I would have thought that a virus (who's main environmental dangers are things like UV would…
Isaacson
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What determines when a virus becomes a "new strain"?

The reason we cannot find a cure for the common cold is because viruses mutate rapidly. Where do the mutations occur in the DNA/mRNA of viruses and does this have any effect on the protein level? what has to change for the virus to be considered a…
harpalss
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Why minimum infective dose of a virus is not just 1 particle?

I've stumbled upon a term "minimum infective dose" (for example, of HIV), but don't exactly understand what is it? Why it is not always equal to 1 virus particle? I expect 1 lucky virus to be able to start infection just like 1 lucky spark can start…
Vi.
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How long will norovirus live?

I hope this is the right place to ask. I subscribe to several Stack Exchange threads, and regard them as the best internet forum for genuine and credible answers. I spent last evening talking to friend, at an Amateur Radio Club, who told me he has…
Harry Weston
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Why are some viruses not communicable person-to-person?

Below are two quotes from the CDC about Hantavirus: "Researchers believe that people may be able to get the virus if they touch something that has been contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and then touch their nose or…
bobuhito
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How can highly virulent but uncommon diseases (like ebola) maintain a stable equilibrium?

I'm wondering how can very uncommon diseases remain in a relatively stable equilibrium. For example, if it started to spread, the spread could accelerate and become an epidemic. However, if it doesn't spread, why doesn't it wither away? As I…
vsz
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Is uncoating required for completion of reverse transcription of HIV?

The p24 capsid plays an important role in the replication of HIV, particularly in the reverse transcription and nuclear entry processes. The capsid protects the viral reverse transcription complex (RTC) from antiviral sensors of the host cells, and…
哲煜黄
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What percentage of cells in the human body are infected during a non-fatal viral infection?

I understand that this would be a very rough estimate, but approximately how many cells in the human body are infected during an average non-fatal viral infection before the infection is eliminated by the immune system? It doesn't matter what virus…
CDB
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Are there any viruses that have infected all humans in the past or present?

Are there any known viruses that have managed to infect all of humankind either in the past or presently, either benign or otherwise?
SeikoShadow
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Is there any way to cultivate viruses without cells?

I know what viruses are. They replicate only inside the living cells, and so on, and so on. I just interesting maybe there is some progress in this field. I don't know exactly, but I suppose before invention of the nutrient agar microorganisms were…
Bird
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Are there any DNA sequences shared by all/most Viruses?

Is there any one DNA sequence shared by all or most viruses? I highly doubt there is mainly because of how different all of them are, but it's still worth a try. Thanks
CDB
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Are there any cases where broadening the tissue tropism decreases the virulence of viruses?

Broadening the tissue tropism often increases the virulence. For example, poliovirus normally replicates in the guts and causes minor febrile illnesses. In rare cases (1%) the virus invades neurons and causes paralysis. But are there any cases that…
哲煜黄
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Question about enveloped RNA virus viral genome

I am a newbie studying campbell biology. just a quick question about virus. When viral genome(RNA) expose itself in the host cell, why does the host cell not eliminate the genome since it apparently not belong to the cell ? Is there any mechanism…
Yao Hsiao
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