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A viral infection does not always cause disease. A viral infection simply involves viral replication in the host, but disease is the damage caused by viral multiplication. [5] An individual who has a viral infection but does not display disease symptoms is known as a carrier. [17] Mechanisms by which viruses cause damage and disease to host cells
Viruses, however, use a completely different mechanism to cause disease. Upon entry into the host, they can do one of two things. Many times, viral pathogens enter the lytic cycle; this is when the virus inserts its DNA or RNA into the host cell, replicates, and eventually causes the cell to lyse, releasing more viruses into the environment.
Such viruses are called attenuated. Live vaccines can be dangerous when given to people with a weak immunity (who are described as immunocompromised), because in these people, the weakened virus can cause the original disease. [166] Biotechnology and genetic engineering techniques are used to produce subunit vaccines.
Infectious disease – illness or disorder when pathogenic (disease-causing) microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, or parasites invade and multiply within the body of a host organism and release toxins, causing various clinical symptoms which can potentially lead to severe health complications or even death. Infectious diseases can ...
Viruses can, and do, turn our world upside down. But they also made us into what we are today.
Some viruses cause disease, while others may be asymptomatic. Certain viruses are also integrated into the human genome as proviruses or endogenous viral elements. [1] Viruses evolve rapidly and hence the human virome changes constantly. [5] Every human being has a unique virome with a unique balance of species.
For instance, people with severe cases of viral pneumonia – caused by viruses like the flu, RSV or SARS-CoV-2 – also often end up with a bacterial infection in the lungs or sinuses.
Their growth and reproduction within their hosts can cause disease. "Germ" refers to not just a bacterium but to any type of microorganism, such as protists or fungi, or other pathogens that can cause disease, such as viruses, prions, or viroids. [1] Diseases caused by pathogens are called infectious diseases. Even when a pathogen is the ...