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Biomedical Basics

Viruses

  • Created by Henry Stewart Talks
Published on March 31, 2026   4 min

A selection of talks on Infectious Diseases

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This session centers on viruses, offering a structured look at the unique biology of viruses, including their classification, structure, and replication cycle. We will discuss how viruses exhibit host specificity, the mechanisms of transmission, and the range of viral diseases affecting populations. The challenges of diagnosing and treating viral infections will be covered, emphasizing the importance of prevention through vaccines. Finally, we will consider the impact of viruses on evolution, ecosystems, and public health, underscoring the need for ongoing research and vigilance. Vruses are unique entities straddling the line between living and non living. Outside a host, they're inert, but inside a cell, they hijack its machinery to reproduce. Vruses infect all life forms and are highly diverse. They're classified by their genetic material, deoxyribonucleic acid or ribonucleic acid, single or double stranded. Some like HIV are retroviruses integrating into host DNA. Every virus has a genome and protein capsid. So also have a host derived lipid envelope, which helps with cell entry and immune recognition. The viral replication cycle showcases molecular parasitism. It starts with the virus attaching to specific receptors on a susceptible host cell, determining which species or cell types it can infect. Entry follows via membrane fusion or endocytosis. Inside, the viral genome hijacks the host's machinery.

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