VACCINIA VIRUSES Meaning and
Definition
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Vaccinia viruses are a group of large, complex viruses belonging to the family Poxviridae. They are enveloped, double-stranded DNA viruses, which have been used as the basis for the development of the smallpox vaccine. The vaccinia virus is the strain of virus used in the smallpox vaccination, and hence, the name "vaccinia" derives from the Latin word "vaccinus," meaning "derived from cows."
Vaccinia viruses are highly contagious, primarily infecting humans, although several animal species can also be affected. The viruses display a characteristic brick-shaped appearance under the microscope, with a diameter ranging from 220 to 450 nanometers. They are equipped with a variety of genes that help them evade the host immune system, replicate efficiently, and spread within the body.
In the context of vaccines, vaccinia viruses are attenuated or weakened forms of the virus that do not cause severe disease but stimulate an immune response. They are used as vectors for the delivery of foreign genes in DNA vaccines and as a tool for immunization against smallpox. Through the process of inoculation, vaccinia viruses are introduced into the body, which triggers the production of antibodies and immune cells specific to the virus. This grants immunity against smallpox, preventing severe illness or death upon exposure to the actual smallpox virus. Although smallpox has been eradicated, vaccinia viruses still find utility in scientific research, as well as in potential new vaccines and gene therapy approaches.
Common Misspellings for VACCINIA VIRUSES
- caccinia viruses
- baccinia viruses
- gaccinia viruses
- faccinia viruses
- vzccinia viruses
- vsccinia viruses
- vwccinia viruses
- vqccinia viruses
- vaxcinia viruses
- vavcinia viruses
- vafcinia viruses
- vadcinia viruses
- vacxinia viruses
- vacvinia viruses
- vacfinia viruses
- vacdinia viruses
- vaccunia viruses
- vaccjnia viruses
- vaccknia viruses
- vacconia viruses
Etymology of VACCINIA VIRUSES
The word "vaccinia" is derived from the Latin word "vacca", which means cow. This name was given to the virus because it was first discovered and isolated from cows during the early studies of vaccination. The cowpox virus, which is closely related to vaccinia virus, was used by Edward Jenner in the late 18th century to develop the smallpox vaccine, marking the beginning of modern vaccination. "Vaccinia viruses" therefore refers to a group of viruses that are closely related to the original cowpox virus and are used as the basis for smallpox vaccination.
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