- Viruses are infectious agents made up of genetic material. (DNA or RNA) that is surrounded by a protein coat (CAPSID) .
            
- Viruses incorporate themselves into cells .
            
- Viruses are tiny and can only be seen with an election microscope .
            
- Viruses can only reproduce and carry our metabolic functions when they are inside a host cell.
            
- Viruses can remain dormant for a long time, either outside or inside of the host cell. (eg. chicken pox) .
            
- Viruses cause diseases by infecting a host cell. .
            
- To produce new copies of a virus, it must use the host cell's reproductive "machinery." Viruses can then leave the.
            
   host cell, killing it and proceed to infect other cells within the host organism.
            
- Viruses can infect plants, animals and bacteria. .
            
VIRAL INFECTION AND REPRODUCTION .
            
- Lytic Cycle: process which the virus multiplies and destroys the host cell. .
            
- Lysogenic Cycle: process which the virus multiplies with the host cell and gets passed into the daughter cells.
            
- Some Examples of Illnesses: AIDS, Chicken Pox, Small Pox, Hepatatis .
            
- Protection against and treatment of viral infections .
            
- Good health.
            
- Vaccination .
            
- Antibiotics cannot be used to treat viral infections, but there are anti viral meds that can treat it.
            
VACCINES AND VACCINATION .
            
- Vaccines protect us from serious effects of infectious diseases, by preparing our body to defend itself against the.
            
  infectious agent, by building immunity. .
            
- Importance of vaccination- Immunized children help protect the health of the community, it helps stop the spread.
            
  of the disease among those who are vulnerable.
            
- Types of Immunity: .
            
A) Innate/ Natural Immunity: born with it, many viruses that affect other species do not affect them. .
            
B) Passive Immunity: receiving antibodies from another source. Lasts for a short period of time because no immune.
            
   response is generated. eg: maternal antibodies .
            
C) Adaptive Immunity: Develops throughout our lives, results to pathogens.