ORTHOMYXOVIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Orthomyxoviruses are a family of RNA viruses that primarily infect vertebrates, including humans and animals. They are characterized by a unique segmented genome, which means that their genetic material is divided into several separate pieces. Orthomyxoviruses are responsible for causing several highly contagious respiratory infections in humans and animals, including the influenza virus.
These viruses are classified into four genera: Influenzavirus A, Influenzavirus B, Influenzavirus C, and the recently discovered Influenzavirus D. Influenzavirus A is the most common and widely studied genus that includes the different subtypes of influenza viruses. Orthomyxoviruses are enveloped viruses, meaning they have an outer membrane that surrounds their genetic material.
Orthomyxoviruses primarily enter the host through the respiratory tract, where they target and infect the epithelial cells of the respiratory system. They are transmitted through respiratory droplets, direct contact, and occasionally through contaminated surfaces. The hallmark characteristic of orthomyxoviruses is their ability to undergo frequent genetic mutations and reassortment, leading to the emergence of new strains and subtypes. This high mutation rate is one of the reasons why influenza viruses can cause seasonal outbreaks and pandemics with significant healthcare and economic impact.
Understanding the structure and behavior of orthomyxoviruses is crucial in the development of effective prevention strategies, vaccines, and antiviral drugs to control the spread and impact of influenza infections.
Common Misspellings for ORTHOMYXOVIRUSES
- irthomyxoviruses
- krthomyxoviruses
- lrthomyxoviruses
- prthomyxoviruses
- 0rthomyxoviruses
- 9rthomyxoviruses
- oethomyxoviruses
- odthomyxoviruses
- ofthomyxoviruses
- otthomyxoviruses
- o5thomyxoviruses
- o4thomyxoviruses
- orrhomyxoviruses
- orfhomyxoviruses
- orghomyxoviruses
- oryhomyxoviruses
- or6homyxoviruses
- or5homyxoviruses
- ortgomyxoviruses
- ortbomyxoviruses
Etymology of ORTHOMYXOVIRUSES
The word "Orthomyxoviruses" can be broken down into two parts: "Ortho-" and "myxoviruses".
- "Ortho-" is a prefix derived from the Greek word "orthos", meaning "correct" or "straight". It is commonly used in scientific terminology to indicate correctness or alignment.
- "Myxoviruses" is a term derived from the Greek word "myxa", meaning "mucus". It refers to a family of viruses that infect animals and humans and are characterized by their ability to cause respiratory and other related infections.
Therefore, "Orthomyxoviruses" refers to a group of viruses that have a correct or straight arrangement and are related to the family of viruses that cause respiratory and mucus-related infections.
