Surprisingly, a virus is not a living entity – it is just a collection of genetic material, either RNA or DNA, with a protein coat to protect it. It can be thousands of times smaller than a single cell bacteria and in fact, unlike living organisms, lacks the ability to replicate itself. Yet, this non-living entity springs into action as soon as it gets inside a host through being inhaled, ingested, bitten by an insect, or engaging in sexual activity.

In order to reproduce, a virus must first gain entry into a host cell where it takes over the cell’s components and begins making copies of itself. With few exceptions (influenza and rabies), viruses are species-specific. Virologists get very worried when a virus jumps from one species to another because the new host has no immunity to the novel virus. Thankfully, cross-species infections rarely occur.

There are several excellent resources available to find out more about viruses. For a great website on all things viral, check out Virology a blog by Vincent Rancaniello’s, PhD. For those interested in books, Killer Germs written by Barry and David Zimmerman provides a fascinating look at viruses and its role in everything from cancer to mental illness. William R. Clark, author of In Defense of Self also provides insight into how the immune system works in combating everything from allergies to HIV as well as what happens when the immune system goes awry.

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