The Nature of Viruses

For many people, the fear and stigma associated with catching an STD or HIV are enough to keep them away from the situations that would put them at risk. However, there are often other health concerns that go along with catching an STD, especially since they do not show symptoms until a much later stage. For this reason, it is important for people to know about all of the diseases that are associated with sexual contact, both good and bad. This will help prevent them from taking a wrong turn in their life and infecting themselves with one of these diseases that they should not be caught.

When we speak of a virus, we are typically referring to the genetic material contained within a virus. Viruses are very small living organisms. They are capable of reproducing themselves and spreading through different types of living cells. Commonly, viruses tend to have a nasty reputation for causing disease as well as contagion.

Although this may seem like a frightening thought, it is completely true that some viruses can be transmitted from one individual to another without the knowledge of either individual. For instance, you could unknowingly give a loved one the virus that causes genital warts, and when you do so, they could unknowingly pass the virus onto another individual. This is known as transmission. A simple example of how this works is during sex. If your partner had genital warts, then they could pass the virus on to you without even knowing it.

Once the virus has passed from one individual to another, the original host cell becomes damaged and unable to replicate itself. It is during this stage that the virus begins to change into a disease state. At this point, it has completely taken over the host cell and can no longer divide. The changes that occur at this point are also what sets off symptoms such as warts, herpes and other such ailments. Because the virus has infected the entire cell, it is referred to as a multi-virus.

Smaller viruses are much less common and much easier to track. However, even a small virus can cause serious health problems if it invades nearby tissue. For instance, the HIV virus has been known to cause AIDS. While this is not the most common strain of HIV, it is the most deadly strain. Because these types of viruses are much smaller, they can also be much more difficult to detect.

Tobacco plant viruses are another major cause of infection and disease. As you can see, the virus spreads by way of micro-organisms, just like the flu and common cold. This means that certain viruses can be as dangerous as the transmission of diseases. Tobacco leaves and stems, for instance, have been found to contain a lethal viral agent called the tree of life. This deadliest virus can wreak havoc on your body and force you to seek medical help, possibly for your life.