Pronunciation: [vˈa͡ɪɹəsɪz] (IPA) 
The word "viruses" is spelled with the letter "i" between "v" and "r" because it follows the rule of English spelling that says "u" after "q" must be followed by "e" (e.g. "queue"). The "i" in "viruses" is pronounced as /aɪ/ which represents the diphthong sound, combining the short "a" (/æ/) and the long "e" (/iː/) sounds. The IPA phonetic transcription for "viruses" is /ˈvaɪrəsɪz/.
Viruses are microscopic infectious agents that are composed of genetic material, typically in the form of either DNA or RNA, surrounded by a protein coat called a capsid. They are classified as non-living organisms because they cannot reproduce or carry out metabolic processes on their own. Instead, viruses rely entirely on host cells to replicate and carry out their life cycle.
Viruses have the ability to infect various organisms, including plants, animals, and even bacteria. Upon infecting a host cell, the virus fuses with the cell membrane, releasing its genetic material into the cell. The genetic material then takes control of the cellular machinery, redirecting it to produce new copies of the viral components. These components are assembled into complete virus particles, which eventually burst out of the host cell, thus infecting neighboring cells and spreading the infection.
Viruses are responsible for causing a wide range of diseases in humans, animals, and plants, including the common cold, influenza, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19. They can also cause diseases in crops, leading to significant economic losses in agriculture.
The study of viruses, known as virology, focuses on understanding their structure, classification, behavior, and interactions with host cells. This knowledge is essential for developing effective vaccines and antiviral therapies to combat viral infections. It is also important for public health measures, such as implementing prevention and control strategies to limit viral outbreaks and pandemics.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "viruses" has its etymology rooted in the Latin word "virus" which means "poison" or "slime". In Latin, "virus" primarily referred to a poisonous liquid or a secretion, especially related to venomous creatures like snakes or insects. Over time, the meaning of the word extended to include any harmful substance or agent, including pathogens that cause diseases. In the late 19th century, the term "virus" was specifically adopted in the field of microbiology to describe disease-causing agents capable of replicating within living cells. Hence, the plural form "viruses" is widely used to refer to multiple instances of these infectious agents.
