Passenger virus
Passenger virus is a term used in virology to describe a virus that is found in a host but does not cause any apparent disease. These viruses are often discovered during genomic sequencing studies when the DNA or RNA of a host organism is being studied for other purposes.
Overview[edit | edit source]
The concept of a passenger virus is relatively new in the field of virology. It was first proposed in the early 2000s when researchers began to notice that many organisms, including humans, carry a large number of viruses that do not cause any apparent disease. These viruses are often referred to as the virome, which is the collective term for all the viruses that inhabit a particular organism or ecosystem.
Characteristics[edit | edit source]
Passenger viruses are characterized by their lack of pathogenicity. They are often found in healthy individuals and do not cause any apparent disease. However, they may become pathogenic under certain conditions, such as when the host's immune system is compromised.
Passenger viruses can be found in various parts of the body, including the gut, skin, and respiratory tract. They can also be found in various types of organisms, including humans, animals, and plants.
Role in Health and Disease[edit | edit source]
The role of passenger viruses in health and disease is not fully understood. Some researchers believe that they may play a role in maintaining the health of the host by competing with pathogenic viruses for resources. Others believe that they may contribute to disease by altering the host's immune response or by interacting with other microbes in the microbiome.
Research[edit | edit source]
Research on passenger viruses is still in its early stages. However, several studies have suggested that they may play a role in various diseases, including cancer, autoimmune diseases, and neurological disorders. Further research is needed to fully understand the role of passenger viruses in health and disease.
See Also[edit | edit source]
This virology related article is a stub. You can help WikiMD by expanding it.
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
