virology
Studying infectious particles
Virology is the scientific study of viruses—their structure, classification, evolution, and how they infect host cells.
A virologist researches everything from influenza to HIV to emerging pathogens.
The field gained public prominence during disease outbreaks: Virology labs raced to sequence the new coronavirus.
Single viral unit
- capsidViral genetic material's casing
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
- genomeOrganism's total hereditary material
RNA · DNA · oncovirus · bacteriophage · phage · tropism · receptor · lytic
Sudden eruption of trouble
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- transmissionSending of information
- spreadTo distribute widely
contagion · quarantine · surveillance · contact tracing · super-spreader · zoonosis · vector · reservoir
Facility for scientific investigation
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
- isolationComplete separation from others
- sequencingDetermining element order
- genomicsStudy of entire genetic sequences
bioinformatics · PCR · assay · diagnostics · electron microscopy · inoculation · passage · attenuation
Disease prevention injection
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- antigenImmune response inducer
- immunityProtected from harm
- immunizationProtective medical injection
neutralization · serology · interferon · cytokine · T-cell · B-cell · immune response · vaccination
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- hostOne receiving guests
- pathogenicityAbility to cause illness
- virulenceCapacity to cause disease
- latencyDelay in system response
reactivation · shedding · cell death · tissue damage · viremia · disease progression · symptoms · complications
virion
Single viral unit
- capsidViral genetic material's casing
- envelopeFolded paper enclosure
- replicationAct of duplicating precisely
genome · RNA · DNA · oncovirus · bacteriophage · phage · tropism · receptor · lytic · protease
outbreak
Sudden eruption of trouble
- pandemicGlobal disease outbreak
- epidemicWidespread disease occurrence
- transmissionSending of information
spread · contagion · quarantine · surveillance · contact tracing · super-spreader · zoonosis · vector · reservoir · endemic
laboratory
Facility for scientific investigation
- cell cultureLaboratory technique for growing tissue
- isolationComplete separation from others
- sequencingDetermining element order
genomics · bioinformatics · PCR · assay · diagnostics · electron microscopy · inoculation · passage · attenuation · gain-of-function
vaccine
Disease prevention injection
- antibodyProtein targeting foreign substances
- antigenImmune response inducer
- immunityProtected from harm
immunization · neutralization · serology · interferon · cytokine · T-cell · B-cell · immune response · vaccination · booster
infection
Pathogen invasion causing illness
- hostOne receiving guests
- pathogenicityAbility to cause illness
- virulenceCapacity to cause disease
latency · reactivation · shedding · cell death · tissue damage · viremia · disease progression · symptoms · complications · chronic infection
- biologycells, DNA, cell, biology, gene
- sciencesbiology, chemistry, physics, astronomy, geology
- STEMscience, engineering, mathematics, math, technology
- academic fieldsmathematics, biology, chemistry, physics, history
- Biomedicineanatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, immunology
- disciplinesbiology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, psychology
virologybacteriology
Science of microscopic organisms
mycology · parasitology · protozoology · microbiology · immunology