Marburg virus (MARV) continues to be a serious public health threat in the Eastern Africa region. It belongs to the same family as the Ebola virus (Filoviridae) and can cause…

Monkeypox, now referred to as Mpox, remains a significant health threat in Africa, including Tanzania, due to its recent resurgence in the region. While Tanzania has not yet reported Mpox…

Viruses are at the forefront of global health challenges due to their ability to evolve, adapt, and spread across populations, often causing significant morbidity and mortality. Over the past century,…

VIDEOS FOR THE INTRODUCTORY PART What is a Virus? Unusual Infectious Agents Learning outcomes 1. Define virology and explain its scope and importance in the broader field of microbiology. Key…

VIDEOS FOR THE INTRODUCTORY PART What is a Virus? Unusual Infectious Agents A virus is a Latin Word Meaning “poison” Three main criteria are used to define a virus a)…

Discovery of viruses: Where did viruses come from? Viruses are found wherever there is life and have probably existed since living cells first evolved The origin of viruses is unclear…

Are Viruses Alive? Although viruses challenge our concept of what “living” means, they are vital members of the web of life The best analogy is that of a seed that…

Virology is all about understanding viruses – from more common infections such as chickenpox to new and emerging infections like Zika and Ebola. Viruses are some of the most diverse…

Viruses have been utilized in various beneficial ways in biotechnology, leveraging their unique characteristics for different applications. Here are some examples of how viruses are employed in biotechnology: Gene Therapy:…