Virus is Latin for poison a virus is a submicroscopic infectious agent that replicates only inside the living cells of an organism. Viruses infect all life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea. Viruses are found in almost every ecosystem on Earth and are the most numerous type of biological entity. Since Dmitri Ivanovsky's 1892 article describing a non-bacterial pathogen infecting tobacco plants and the discovery of the tobacco mosaic virus by Martinus Beijerinck in 1898,: 4 more than 11,000 of the millions of virus species have been described in detail. The study of viruses is known as virology, a subspeciality of microbiology. When infected, a host cell is often forced to rapidly produce thousands of copies of the original virus. When not inside an infected cell or in the process of infecting a cell, viruses exist in the form of independent viral particles, or virions, consisting of (i) genetic material, i.e., long molecules of DNA or RNA that encode the structure of the proteins by which the virus acts; (ii) a protein coat, the capsid, which surrounds and protects the genetic material; and in some cases (iii) an outside envelope of lipids. The shapes of these virus particles range from simple helical and icosahedral forms to more complex structures. Most virus species have virions too small to be seen with an optical microscope and are one-hundredth the size of most bacteria. The origins of viruses in the evolutionary history of life are still unclear. Some viruses may have evolved from plasmids, which are pieces of DNA that can move between cells. Other viruses may have evolved from bacteria. In evolution, viruses are an important means of horizontal gene transfer, which increases genetic diversity in a way analogous to sexual reproduction. Viruses are considered by some biologists to be a life form, because they carry genetic material, reproduce, and evolve through natural selection, although they lack some key characteristics, such as cell structure, that are generally considered necessary criteria for defining life. Because they possess some but not all such qualities, viruses have been described as "organisms at the edge of life" and as replicators. Viruses spread in many ways. One transmission pathway is through disease-bearing organisms known as vectors: for example, viruses are often transmitted from plant to plant by insects that feed on plant sap, such as aphids; and viruses in animals can be carried by blood-sucking insects. Many viruses spread in the air by coughing and sneezing, including influenza viruses, SARS-CoV-2, chickenpox, smallpox, and measles. Norovirus and rotavirus, common causes of viral gastroenteritis, are transmitted by the faecal–oral route, passed by hand-to-mouth contact or in food or water. The infectious dose of norovirus required to produce infection in humans is fewer than 100 particles. HIV is one of several viruses transmitted through sexual contact and by exposure to infected blood. The variety of host cells that a virus can infect is called its host range: this is narrow for viruses specialized to infect only a few species, or broad for viruses capable of infecting many. Viral infections in animals provoke an immune response that usually eliminates the infecting virus. Immune responses can also be produced by vaccines, which confer an artificially acquired immunity to the specific viral infection. Some viruses, including those that cause HIV/AIDS, HPV infection, and viral hepatitis, evade these immune responses and result in chronic infections. Several classes of antiviral drugs have been developed.
Biologists estimate that trillions of virus inhabit the human body, with some estimates reaching around 380 trillion viral particles, which is approximately ten times the number of bacteria. This collection of virus is known as the human virome, and the vast majority of them do not cause disease. Key Facts About the Human Virome Bacteriophages: Many of the viruses living inside you are actually bacteriophages (or phages), viruses that infect & live within bacteria, not human cells. They play a crucial role in the body's microbial ecosystem & some even fight against harmful bacteria. Diverse Species: There may be hundreds or thousands of different viral species in a single person's gut alone & researchers are continually discovering new ones using advanced genetic sequencing methods. Beneficial Roles: While some viruses cause illness, many simply coexist without harm & others may even be beneficial. For example, viral genetic material integrated into our ancestors' DNA makes up about 8% of the human genome & play a role in processes like placental development. Unique to You: Every person has a unique virome that changes constantly based on lifestyle, age, geographic location, diet and even the season. Ongoing Research: The field of the human virome is still relatively new & scientists are using AI & other new tools to better understand how these virus affect human health & disease .
Dr. Beata Halassy is a Croatian virologist, immunologist & senior scientist at the University of Zagreb’s Centre for Research & Knowledge Transfer in Biotechnology. She gained widespread global attention following a published case study detailing how she successfully treated her own recurrent breast cancer through self-experimentation using oncolytic virotherapy (OVT).
The Self-Experimentation Case Study In 2020, Dr. Halassy experienced a third recurrence of muscle-invasive, triple-negative breast cancer at the site of a prior mastectomy. Having already undergone surgery & standard chemotherapy, she sought an alternative to avoid another round of systemic chemo. Leveraging her background in viral immunology, she designed a custom, sequential protocol using oncolytic viruses—viruses engineered or selected to selectively infect & destroy cancer cells while stimulating an anti-tumor immune response:
1. Measles Virus (MeV): She first administered direct, intratumoral injection of an attenuated strain of the measles virus into her tumor.
2. Vesicular Stomatitis Virus (VSV): After her immune system began generating antibodies against the measles virus, she switched to injecting VSV to sustain the oncolytic attack without neutralized interference. The Outcome: The viral injections triggered significant inflammation, breaking down the tumor's physical defense recruiting T-cells, B-cells & macrophages to the site. The tumor shrank dramatically & detached from the underlying muscle, allowing surgeons to successfully resect it. Following surgery & subsequent treatment, she has remained tumor-free.
Significance & Scientific Controversy Dr. Halassy published her case study in the medical journal Vaccines (MDPI), sparking significant debate across the scientific community: Scientific Promise: Her case highlight the potential of neoadjuvant oncolytic virotherapy (using viruses to downstage/shrink inoperable or recurrent tumors before surgery). Ethical & Safety Concern: While her doctors monitored her progress, the self-administered viruses were research-grade laboratory preparation rather than clinical-grade pharmaceuticals. Bioethicists & regulatory bodies expressed concern that her high-profile self-experimentation could encourage untrained patients to attempt unregulated, dangerous DIY treatment which is not bad May the Holy Roman Catholic Church be blessed with healthy virus by God the Father God the Son & God the Holy Spirit Hallelujah Hallelujah ˗ˏˋ ✞ ˎˊ˗ Blessed be the word of the Lord for Christ is risen Hallelujah Hallelujah peace be still in Nomine Patris et FiLii et Spiritus Sancti amen & amen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXbTxj_mD_M
Understanding Viruses
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzJ_mILGYL8&t=101s
Making new vaccines from plant viruses - George Lomonossoff
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NY2gAftzJE
This Woman Cured Her Cancer with an Insane Method