MicrobeWorld

Viruses of Note

• Adenoviruses are used in experimental gene therapy treatments to deliver therapeutic genes.

• Bacteriophages are being explored as tools to treat bacterial infections by targeting and destroying infectious bacteria.

• Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is responsible for the AIDS pandemic.

• Human papillomavirus causes cervical cancer.

• Influenza causes the flu, which killed some 21 million people worldwide in 1918.

• Lambda phage is useful in cloning DNA.

• Potyviruses cause disease in a wide variety of important agricultural plants.

• Tulip mosaic virus causes streaks in tulip petal coloration, resulting in flowers sold at premium prices.

• Variola major causes smallpox. Although eradicated worldwide in the late 1970s, remaining stores could be used to create deadly bioweapons.