virology

virology
virological /vuy'reuh loj"i keuhl/, adj.virologist, n.
/vuy rol"euh jee, vi-/, n.
the science dealing with the study of viruses and the diseases caused by them.
[1930-35; VIR(US) + -O- + -LOGY]

* * *

Branch of microbiology that deals with the study of viruses.

Viruses were not closely examined until 1892, when a Russian bacteriologist observed that the agent of tobacco mosaic disease could pass through a filter that did not permit the passage of bacteria. Modern virology began in the early 20th century, when the existence of bacteriophages was discovered. Direct visualization of viruses became possible after the electron microscope was introduced (с 1940).

* * *

      branch of microbiology that deals with the study of viruses.

      Although diseases caused by viruses have been known since the 1700s and cures for many were (somewhat later) effected, the causative agent was not closely examined until 1892, when a Russian bacteriologist, D. Ivanovski, observed that the causative agent (later proved to be a virus) of tobacco mosaic disease could pass through a porcelain filter impermeable to bacteria. Modern virology began when two bacteriologists, Frederick William Twort in 1915 and Félix d'Hérelle in 1917, independently discovered the existence of bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria).

      Direct visualization of viruses became possible after the electron microscope was introduced about 1940. In 1935 tobacco mosaic virus became the first virus to be crystallized; in 1955 the poliomyelitis virus was crystallized. (A virus “crystal” consists of several thousand viruses and, because of its purity, is well suited for chemical studies.) Virology is a discipline of immediate interest because many human diseases, including smallpox, influenza, the common cold, and AIDS, as well as a host of economically important plant and animal diseases, are caused by viruses.

* * *


Universalium. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Virology — is the study of viruses and virus like agents: their structure, classification and evolution, their ways to infect and exploit cells for virus reproduction, the diseases they cause, the techniques to isolate and culture them, and their use in… …   Wikipedia

  • virology — (n.) 1935, from comb. form of VIRUS (Cf. virus) + OLOGY (Cf. ology). Related: Virological …   Etymology dictionary

  • virology — ► NOUN ▪ the branch of science concerned with the study of viruses. DERIVATIVES virological adjective virologist noun …   English terms dictionary

  • virology — [vī räl′ə jē] n. [< VIR(US) + OLOGY] the study of viruses and viral diseases virologic [vī΄rə läj′ik] adj. virological virologist n …   English World dictionary

  • virology — virusologija statusas T sritis ekologija ir aplinkotyra apibrėžtis Mokslas, tiriantis virusus, kurie sukelia žmogaus, gyvūnų, augalų ir grybų ligas. atitikmenys: angl. virology vok. Virologie, f rus. вирусология, f …   Ekologijos terminų aiškinamasis žodynas

  • Virology (journal) — Infobox Journal title = Virology discipline = Virology abbreviation = none publisher = Elsevier country = Netherlands frequency = 26 per year history = founded 1955 openaccess = none impact = 3.525 impact year = 2006 website = http://www.elsevier …   Wikipedia

  • virology — noun Etymology: New Latin virus + International Scientific Vocabulary logy Date: circa 1935 a branch of science that deals with viruses and viral diseases • virological or virologic adjective • virologically adverb • virologist noun …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • virology — n. [L. virus, poison; Gr. logos, discourse] The study of viruses …   Dictionary of invertebrate zoology

  • virology — (vi rol o je) The branch of microbiology that is concerned with viruses and viral diseases …   Dictionary of microbiology

  • virology — noun The branch of microbiology that deals with the study of viruses and viral diseases. See Also: virologist …   Wiktionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”