Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viral Recombination00:57

Viral Recombination

25.6K
Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.
25.6K
Viral Mutations00:36

Viral Mutations

40.7K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
40.7K
Introduction to Virus01:28

Introduction to Virus

2.5K
Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
2.5K
Viruses with RNA Genomes01:29

Viruses with RNA Genomes

1.2K
RNA viruses are categorized into positive-strand, negative-strand, or double-stranded groups based on their genomic structure and replication mechanisms. This classification dictates how they exploit host cellular machinery for protein synthesis and replication. Some RNA viruses also utilize reverse transcription as part of their life cycle, further diversifying their replication strategies.Positive-Strand RNA VirusesPositive-strand RNA viruses have genomes that function directly as messenger...
1.2K
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

130.4K
Overview
130.4K
Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses of Archaea

639
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
639

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

The Cold War and Phage Therapy: How Geopolitics Stalled Development of Viruses as Antibacterials.

Annual review of virology·2024
Same author

THE GROWTH AND SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF CURRENT YEAR CLASS LOLIGO PEALEI.

The Biological bulletin·2017
Same author

Félix Hubert d'Herelle (1873-1949): History of a scientific mind.

Bacteriophage·2017
Same author

Life in Science: William C Summers.

Bacteriophage·2014
Same author

The strange history of phage therapy.

Bacteriophage·2012
Same author

In the beginning…

Bacteriophage·2011
Same journal

Dengue Virus Evasion of Host Innate Immunity.

Annual review of virology·2026
Same journal

Geminivirus-Induced Reprogramming of Plant Defense Mechanisms: Molecular Insights and Research Frontiers.

Annual review of virology·2026
Same journal

The Evolution of Dengue Virus in India.

Annual review of virology·2026
Same journal

Studying the Deep Evolution of Viruses in the Era of Artificial Intelligence Structure Prediction.

Annual review of virology·2026
Same journal

Viral Pleomorphism: How Virion Structure Guides Infection and Adaptation.

Annual review of virology·2026
Same journal

Targeting Herpesvirus Recombination Proteins for Antiviral Therapy.

Annual review of virology·2026
See all related articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants
15:49

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants

Published on: June 9, 2022

2.0K

Inventing Viruses.

William C Summers1

  • 1Departments of Therapeutic Radiology, Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry, and History of Medicine, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut 06520;

Annual Review of Virology
|March 10, 2016
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

The concept of a virus evolved significantly from the 19th century, initially referring to unknown disease agents. Advancements like filtration and electron microscopy revealed viruses as distinct, filterable, particulate entities, reshaping virology.

Keywords:
constructionfilterableplaqueultramicrobe

More Related Videos

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

22.1K
A Rapid Strategy for the Isolation of New Faustoviruses from Environmental Samples Using Vermamoeba vermiformis
09:27

A Rapid Strategy for the Isolation of New Faustoviruses from Environmental Samples Using Vermamoeba vermiformis

Published on: June 4, 2016

8.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 24, 2026

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants
15:49

Reverse Genetics to Engineer Positive-Sense RNA Virus Variants

Published on: June 9, 2022

2.0K
Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses
12:20

Bacterial Artificial Chromosomes: A Functional Genomics Tool for the Study of Positive-strand RNA Viruses

Published on: December 29, 2015

22.1K
A Rapid Strategy for the Isolation of New Faustoviruses from Environmental Samples Using Vermamoeba vermiformis
09:27

A Rapid Strategy for the Isolation of New Faustoviruses from Environmental Samples Using Vermamoeba vermiformis

Published on: June 4, 2016

8.2K

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • History of Science
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • The term "virus" historically denoted unknown disease-causing agents used in inoculation experiments.
  • By the late 19th century, "filterable virus" emerged for agents passing through bacterial filters, exemplified by tobacco mosaic virus.
  • Early 20th-century research identified numerous filterable viruses, yet their fundamental nature remained elusive.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To trace the historical evolution of the scientific concept of a virus.
  • To analyze how changing knowledge, scientific values, and technologies influenced the definition and understanding of viruses.
  • To examine the discourse surrounding viruses and virology over time.

Main Methods:

  • Historical analysis of scientific literature and terminology.
  • Examination of key technological advancements, such as filtration and electron microscopy.
  • Review of conceptual shifts in virology from the 19th to the mid-20th century.

Main Results:

  • The concept of "virus" transformed from an "unknown agent" to a "filterable virus" and finally to a distinct particulate entity.
  • The abandonment of "filterable virus" in favor of "virus" by the 1930s marked a conceptual simplification.
  • Electron microscopy in the late 1930s provided definitive evidence of the particulate nature of viruses.

Conclusions:

  • The definition and understanding of viruses were continuously redefined by new empirical discoveries and technological capabilities.
  • The history of virology illustrates a dynamic process of scientific concept formation and revision.
  • Technological innovations played a pivotal role in overcoming conceptual barriers in understanding viruses.