Online Biology Notes for students
What is chickenpox? Herpes virus (DNA) Primary infection results in varicella (chickenpox) Recurrent infection results in herpes zoster (shingles) Short survival in the environment Image Source: Wikipedia Structure VZV virions are spherical and 180–200 nm in diameter. Their lipid envelope encloses the 100 nm nucleocapsid Nucleocapsid has 162 hexameric and pentameric capsomeres arranged …
Hepatitis is a liver infection. It is caused by the Hepatitis C virus which is a blood-borne virus. It is a short term illness but it can be asymptomatic until decades after the infection. Chronic Hepatitis C is a serious disease that can result in long term health problems and even death. …
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) What is HIV? HIV stands for ‘human immunodeficiency virus’. It weakens a person’s immune system by destroying important cells that fight against disease and infection. HIV is a member of the genus Lentivirus, part of the family Retroviridae. It is the causative agent of AIDS. AIDS is a …