Download Virus Unit Vocabulary

Virus Unit Vocabulary
TERM
DEFINITION
Antibiotic
A chemical substance that kills bacteria cells
Bacterium
A single celled prokaryotic microorganism
Bacteriophage
A virus that infects bacteria
Capsid
Protein coat that surrounds the genetic material of a virus
Chicken Pox
A common childhood disease caused by the varicella virus
Host
An organism in which a parasite derives nutrients from
Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV)
A retrovirus that invades T-cells attacking the immune
system and resulting in Acquired Deficiency Syndrome
(AIDS).
Immunization
The process of immunity through introducing small doses of
the infection
Influenza
A highly contagious infectious disease caused by a virus
Lysogenic Cycle
Viral reproduction resulting in viral genetic material being
integrated into the host cells genetic material; a long latent
period
Lytic Cycle
Viral reproduction resulting in the lysis (splitting) of the host
cell and the production of more virus particles manufactured
by the host cell
Microorganism
An organism that is too small to be seen with the naked eye
Parasite
Lives in or on another organism that results in harm to the
host organism
Pathogen
Anything capable of causing infectious disease
Retrovirus
A virus that contains reverse transcriptase and RNA
Vaccine
An injection of a killed or weakened pathogen to protect
against viruses
Virus
A non-living particle dependent on host cells for replicating
the viral DNA
Page 1 of 1