Virus

A virus is a microscopic infectious agent that can reproduce only inside a host cell. Viruses infect all types of organisms: from animals and plants, to bacteria and archaea. Since the initial discovery of tobacco mosaic virus by Martinus Beijerinck in 1898, more than 5,000 types of virus have been described in detail, although most types of virus remain undiscovered. Viruses are ubiquitous, as they are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth, and are the most abundant type of biological entity on the planet. The study of viruses is known as virology, and is a branch of microbiology.

What is a Virus?

A virus is a small infectious agent that can only replicate inside the cells of another organism.

Virus Purification Methods

What are Viral Clades?

What are Filoviruses?

Virus Uses in Virology

Jamestown Canyon Virus: An Emerging Arboviral Threat in Temperate Climates

What is the Difference Between Bacteria and Viruses?

Virus Eradication, Extinction, and Elimination Explained

Virus Infection in Other Species

Virus History

What is a Viral Mutation?

Virus Origins

See more featured articles »

Are Viruses a Lifeform?

What Are Giant Viruses?

Antiviral Immunity and COVID-19

Human Diseases Caused by Viruses

Virus Microbiology

What is Vertical Transmission?

Virus Classification

Latest Virus News and Research

Single-molecule imaging reveals nucleated growth mechanism of viral capsids

Oxford University researchers have captured the step-by-step assembly of individual virus-like particles, revealing how simple molecular interactions can reliably build these complex biological structures. The results have been published today (16 September) in Nature.

17 Sep 2026

SARS-CoV-2 uses two fusion keys to enter host cells

To enter our cells, the Covid-19 virus fuses its surrounding membrane with the membrane of the target cell.

17 Sep 2026

Hedgehog coronaviruses reveal potential pathways for cross-species transmission

Washington State University researchers have discovered how a group of coronaviruses circulating in hedgehogs invades host cells, a key to understanding their potential to jump between species and their risk of causing a pandemic in humans.

16 Sep 2026

Study confirms continued effectiveness of antibodies and vaccines used to prevent RSV infections

An analysis of more than 60,000 respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) sequences from around the world found that viral variants associated with resistance to current RSV prevention tools remain rare, according to a study published Sept. 16 in Nature.

16 Sep 2026

Study illuminates the link between the Epstein-Barr virus and multiple sclerosis

A new study illuminates the connection between the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and multiple sclerosis (MS), pointing to a causal role for reactivation of the virus in triggering MS attacks in people with certain genetic risk factors.

16 Sep 2026

College BORG drinking associated with blackouts and other alcohol-related harms

A newly popular college drinking trend, the blackout rage gallon (BORG), fosters binge drinking and can lead to a host of alcohol-related harms, according to a new study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, published at Rutgers University.

15 Sep 2026

Harvard scientists design evolutionary traps to stop viral mutations

When a virus mutates, the world usually finds out the hard way. Variants of influenza and SARS‑CoV‑2 can slip past vaccines and antibody drugs before scientists fully understand what has changed.

15 Sep 2026

Optimizing respiratory virus research workflows with VACUBOY

UTS researchers utilize the VACUBOY and VACUSAFE systems to enhance respiratory health studies, streamlining cell culture workflows and improving productivity.

15 Sep 2026

Lupus-linked genetic variants may boost antiviral immunity

Why do genetic variants that increase the risk of autoimmune disease remain so common in the population?

11 Sep 2026

Study shows mRNA vaccines trigger more diverse flu antibody responses

Influenza remains a major global health challenge as continual antigenic drift can limit the breadth and durability of vaccine-induced antibody responses, requiring frequent vaccine updates.

11 Sep 2026

Avoiding antibody-dependent enhancement enables dengue prevention and treatment

Dengue virus is one of the most widespread vector-borne viral pathogens in the world. Nearly 400 million dengue virus infections occur each year, resulting in approximately 20,000 deaths.

10 Sep 2026

Weakened form of Mpox drove the 2022 global outbreak

The strain of Mpox behind the 2022 outbreak was a weakened form of the virus, which may have helped to spread it faster, a new study from the University of Surrey reports.

9 Sep 2026

New integrated framework advances precision surgery for liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the sixth most common malignancy and the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally.

9 Sep 2026

New AI method tracks immune responses without known antibody databases

A research team comprising Associate Professor FUNAKOSHI Yohei, Associate Professor YAKUSHIJIN Kimikazu, Professor MINAMI Hironobu, and Associate Professor OHJI Goh of Kobe University, together with graduate student MASUDA Genki, then-graduate student IIZUMI Shunsuke, Associate Professor OHUE Masahito, and colleagues at the Institute of Science Tokyo, has developed a new analysis method, LM-QASAS.

9 Sep 2026

EpilepsyGTx and Viralgen collaborate to advance AAV gene therapy program for epilepsy ahead of first-in-human trial

EpilepsyGTx, a biotechnology company developing gene therapies for refractory epilepsy, and Viralgen, a leading contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) specializing in recombinant adeno-associated virus (AAV) gene therapies, today announced a partnership to support production of EpilepsyGTx's lead investigational gene therapy program targeting patients with focal refractory epilepsy (FRE), EPY201, ahead of first-in-human clinical trials.

From EpilepsyGTx 9 Sep 2026

Could scorpion venom inspire new treatments for liver disease?

Scorpion venom peptides show promising anti-inflammatory, antiviral, analgesic, and immunomodulatory effects, with experimental evidence suggesting that some candidates could target pathways involved in chronic liver disease and viral hepatitis. The review highlights Kv1.3-blocking peptides and antiviral compounds as potential therapeutic leads, while emphasizing that limited hepatic efficacy data, poor pharmacokinetics, immunogenicity, and manufacturing challenges must be overcome before clinical translation.

8 Sep 2026