Microbiology Reference Libraries
The B19 virus, referred to as parvovirus B19, was first known human virus in the family of parvovirus. It causes a childhood rash called fifth disease or commonly called slapped cheek syndrome. Discovered in 1975 by Yvonne Cossart, the virus gained its name because it was found in well B19 of a large series of Petri dishes. The virus is mainly spread through infected respiratory droplets....
Parapoxviruses, belonging to the Poxviridae family, are oval, relatively large, double-stranded DNA viruses. They have a unique spiral coat that distinguishes them from other poxviruses. Some of the viruses are zoonotic but not all. Zoonotic hosts include sheep, goats, and cattle. The New Zealand Red Deer is the most recent species to have been found with Parapoxvirus. The viruses tend to...
Papillomaviridae is a taxonomic family of non-enveloped DNA viruses, collectively known as papillomaviruses. There are several hundred species, or types, of papillomaviruses that have been identified. Most infections are asymptomatic or cause small benign tumors. Types 16 and 18 carry risks of becoming cancerous. They replicate in the basal layer of the body surface tissues. Typically they...
Norovirus is an RNA virus that causes approximately 90% of epidemic non-bacterial outbreaks of gastroenteritis around the world. It may also be responsible for 50% of all foodborne outbreaks of gastroenteritis in the U.S. It can affect people of all ages and is transmitted by food or water that is contaminated, by person-to-person contact, and through aerosolization of the virus and subsequent...
Mumps virus causes mumps which is a common childhood disease characterized by swelling of the parotid glands and other epithelial tissues causing high morbidity in some cases deafness. Infection is currently restricted to humans while the virus is transmitted by direct contact, droplet spread, or via contaminated objects. It is a vaccine preventable disease although significant outbreaks have...
Monkeypox virus causes monkeypox in both humans and animals. It was first found in 1958 in macaque monkeys that were being used as laboratory animals. The monkeys are often used for neurological experiments. The virus is typically found in rainforest regions of central and West Africa. It was first discovered in 1970 in humans and from 1970 to 1986 there were over 400 cases reported in...
Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCV or MCPyV), first discovered in January 2008, is one of seven human tumor viruses. It is suspected to cause most of Merkel cell carcinoma which is a rare, aggressive form of skin cancer. Around 80% of Merkel cell carcinoma tumors are found to be infected with MCV. It is found in respiratory secretions suggesting that it may be transmitted by a respiratory route....
Measles, also known as Rubeola or Morbilli, is caused by a virus and infects the respiratory system. Morbilliviruses are enveloped, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA viruses. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and a generalized maculopapular erythematous rash. It is spread through respiration and is highly contagious. 90% of people without immunity who share a living...
Marburg virus, or Marburg, is the standard name for the genus of viruses Marburgvirus which contains the species, Lake Victoria Marburgvirus. It causes Marburg Hemorrhagic Fever (MHF) which originated with primates. It originated in Africa and can infect humans and primates. It is in the same taxonomic family as Ebola and both are identical structurally although they elicit different...
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis (LCM) is a viral disease, spread by rodents, that presents as aseptic meningitis, encephalitis, or meningoencephalitis. Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis Virus (LCMV) is the causative agent and is a member of the Arenaviridae family. The name is from the tendency of an individual to have high levels of lymphocytes during infection. It is spread by the common house...
