key term - Viruses

Definition

Viruses are microscopic infectious agents made up of genetic material (DNA or RNA) surrounded by a protein coat. They cannot reproduce on their own but instead infect host cells to replicate.

Related terms

Pathogens:

Pathogens include both viruses and bacteria that cause diseases in living organisms.

Immune System: The immune system is the body's defense mechanism against pathogens. It recognizes foreign substances like viruses and mounts an immune response to eliminate them.

Vaccines: Vaccines contain weakened or inactive forms of a virus (or other pathogen) that stimulate an immune response without causing illness. They help prevent future infections by training the immune system to recognize specific pathogens.