Examples of Viral Disease

• What are viruses considered to be despite not being living cells?


  Organisms
• How much smaller are viruses compared to animal cells?


  About 10,000 times smaller
• Why can't viruses reproduce by themselves?


  They lack the necessary cellular machinery
• What happens when a virus enters another organism's cell?


  It uses the cell's machinery to make copies of itself
• What is the consequence of a virus bursting a cell?


  It damages the body and makes us feel ill
• What are the three examples of viral diseases mentioned?

  • Measles
  • HIV
  • Tobacco mosaic virus
• How is the measles virus spread?


  By droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes
• What are the common symptoms of measles?


  A red rash and fever
• Why is measles considered rare in the UK?


  Because nearly everyone is vaccinated against it
• How is HIV primarily spread?


  Through sexual contact and exchanging bodily fluids
• What does HIV stand for?


  Human immunodeficiency virus
• What does HIV do to the immune system?


  It causes a deficiency or inadequacy in the immune system
• What are the initial symptoms when someone first catches HIV?


  Flu-like symptoms such as fever, tiredness, and aches
• What happens to a person's immune system over time after contracting HIV?


  It becomes weaker, leading to unusual infections and cancers
• What is the condition called when a person's immune system can no longer cope due to HIV?


  AIDS
• What was the outcome for people with AIDS before the introduction of antiretroviral drugs?


  They would die from random infections or cancer
• What do antiretroviral drugs do for people with HIV?


  They prevent the virus from replicating in the body
• What is the effect of antiretroviral drugs on the lives of people with HIV?


  They can live normal lives if they have access to the medications
• What type of plants does the tobacco mosaic virus affect?


  Certain species such as tobacco and martyr plants
• Why is the tobacco mosaic virus named so?


  It causes discolored patches on leaves, forming a mosaic pattern
• What is the impact of the tobacco mosaic virus on photosynthesis?


  It prevents proper photosynthesis due to discolored patches
• What is the overall effect of the tobacco mosaic virus on plant growth?


  The plant won't be able to produce enough sugars for proper growth