Although viruses were originally discovered and characterized on the basis of the diseases they cause, most viruses that infect. Virus, microscopic, simple infectious agent that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria. It contains at least one unique protein.
Virus, infectious agent of small size and simple composition that can multiply only in living cells of animals, plants, or bacteria. The infective, extracellular (outside the cell) form of a virus is called the virion. Structure of influenza virus the influenza virus possesses both a protein shell (capsid) and a lipid and protein envelope.
Viruses can reproduce only within a host cell. The protein spikes of the envelope facilitate. The nucleic acid encodes the genetic information unique for each virus. The amount and arrangement of the proteins and nucleic acid of viruses determine their size and shape.
The nucleic acid and proteins of. The parental virus (virion) gives rise to numerous progeny, usually genetically and structurally. Viruses possess unique infective properties and. Viruses that infect animals can jump from one species to another, causing a new, usually severe disease in the new host.