In this introduction will be described about the Virus. Virus is another word for poison.

History of the
discovery of viruses , In 1883, Adolf Mayer, a German scientist, was looking for the cause of mosaic
disease in tobacco. This disease inhibits the growth of tobacco plants and causes the leaves to have
spots, so it is called mosaic. Mayer discovered that the disease was contagious when he discovered that
he could transfer the disease from one plant to another by spraying the sap extracted from the leaves of
diseased plants onto healthy plants. Mayer tried to find the microbes in the sap that transmit the
disease but found nothing. Mayer concluded that the disease was caused by bacteria that were smaller
than usual, which could not be seen with a microscope. In 1892, Dimitri Ivanowsky of Russia tested
Mayer's hypothesis by passing the sap from infected tobacco leaves through a filter designed to pick up
bacteria. After being filtered, the sap still causes mosaic disease. Ivanowsky still clings to the hypothesis
that bacteria are the cause of tobacco mosaic disease, arguing that perhaps the pathogenic bacteria are
so small they can still pass through the filter. Or maybe the bacteria is a toxin that can pass through the
filter and cause disease. In 1897 the Dutch botanist Martinus Beijerinck discovered that the infectious
agent present in the filtered sap could reproduce. Beijerinck sprays the plants with filtered sap, and after
the plants suffer from mosaic disease, Beijerinck uses the sap from the plant to infect other plants, and
continues this process through a series of infection processes. The pathogen must have reproduced,
because its ability to cause disease does not decrease after being transferred several times from one
plant to another. In fact, the pathogen can reproduce only when it is inside the host it infects. Unlike
bacteria, the causative agent of mosaic disease cannot be cultured on nutrient medium in test tubes or
petri dishes. In addition, these pathogens cannot be inactivated by alcohol which normally kills bacteria.
In 1935, Wendell Stanley, an American scientist, succeeded in crystallizing the infectious mosaic disease
particles which are now known as tobacco mosaic virus (TMV). Then TMV and many other types of
viruses can be seen with the help of an electron microscope.

1. The nature of the virus The first characteristic can be seen based on the nature of the virus. Actually
viruses are the same as living things because they have nucleic acids and can reproduce themselves.
However, viruses can also be called non-living for the following reasons: Viruses cannot be precipitated
using ordinary centrifugation. But it can be crystallized like an inanimate object. The crystallized virus
still has the ability to infect other organisms. Viruses when they are outside other living things are called
virions. Viruses only have one nucleic acid, either DNA or RNA. In addition, viruses have a protein coat
(capsid) but do not have cytoplasm and organelles. Viruses can only reproduce by dividing themselves in
other living things. 2. Size and shape The characteristics of the next virus that can be seen from the size
and shape of this microorganism. Viruses are known to have sizes between 25 and 300 nanometers (1
nm = 10-9 m). When observed using an electron microscope, it requires a magnification of up to 50,000
times. From the results of the study, the smallest virus is the polio virus. While the virus with the largest
size is the tobacco mosaic virus.

The next characteristic is that it can be seen from the structure of the virus. In general, the structure of
the virus that is often studied is the bacteriophage form. Some parts of this form, among others: Head
and capsid The head of the virus contains nucleic acid. For viruses, the nucleic acid bacteriophage
structure is DNA. The function of these nucleic acids is to control viral replication. Meanwhile, the capsid
is the part of the head of the virus that is enveloped in protein. The capsid is composed of protein units
called capsomeres. The main function of the capsid is to give shape while protecting the virus from
environmental conditions that are detrimental to the virus. Neck This section is the link between the
head and tail of the virus. Tail The function of the tail is to attach itself and infect the cells it attacks. In
this section, there is a tail sheath, base plate, and tail fibers. At each end of the tail fiber there is a
receptor that functions as a stimulus receiver.

Some viruses have the nucleocapsid surrounded by a membrane called the viral envelope. The
constituents of the viral envelope are lipids and proteins with the function of helping the virus to enter
the host cell. Viruses that have this structure are influenza. 4. Virus replication The last characteristics of
viruses can be seen from the ability of viruses to reproduce or replicate. Reproduction of viruses is
known as proliferation. To be able to reproduce, viruses must infect host cells that come from other
living things. To better understand the flow of virus propagation in host cells, the following is a picture of
the replication of a bacteriophage that infects E. coli bacteria.

Judging from the cycle above, the replication process is divided into two parts, namely the lytic and
lysogenic cycles. A complete explanation of the two cycles is as follows: Lytic cycle In this cycle the virus
will destroy the cell it is in until the replication process is complete. The flow of this cycle is: Adsorption
Virus will attach its tail to the bacterial cell wall. The area where the tail of the virus is attached is called
the receptor area. In that area has special properties for certain types of viruses and other types of
viruses are not attached to the area. Penetration In this process the tail end of the virus enters and fuses
with the bacterial cell. This process can occur because the virus has the enzyme lysozyme whose
function is to damage the bacterial cell wall. Eccliphase This part of the virus will take over the metabolic
equipment of the bacteria. After that, the viral nucleic acid controls the proteins and body components
of the new virus by utilizing the materials provided by the bacterial cell. Replication Replication is the
process of forming new viral body parts in bacteria. Assembly In this process the body parts formed in
the previous process will be assembled into a whole new virus. Lysis The process of breaking down a
bacterial cell and releasing a new virus that is ready to infect other bacteria.

Lysogenic cycle The lysogenic cycle is a viral replication process that does not damage bacteria. The viral
nucleic acid does not take over the nucleic acid synthesis function of the bacteria it infects. Meanwhile,
the stages of this leaf are as follows:

Adsorption and penetration: this process the virus will attach its tail then the tail end enters and fuses
with the bacterial cell. Incorporation: viral nucleic acids combine and infiltrate bacterial nucleic acids.

Cleavage: bacterial cells divide themselves, viruses also divide. And the new bacteria that are produced
already contain the virus.

Synthesis: viral nucleic acids separate and enter the lytic leaf. Assembly: the process of assembling virus
particles into a new virus. Lysis: bacterial cells secrete new viruses.

Classification of Viruses The characteristics of viruses that have been described previously in addition to
being used as identifiers, can also be the basis for grouping these organisms. According to the
explanation in the book "Biology for SMA/MA Class X", the classification of viruses is divided into several
groups. This is the full discussion. 1. Based on nucleic acid content Ribovirus or RNA virus: a virus whose
nucleic acid is from RNA. An example is the Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Deoxyribovirus or DNA virus: a virus
whose nucleic acid is derived from DNA. For example Herpes Simplex Virus. 2. Based on its basic shape
Virus is icosahedral in shape: This type of virus has a spatial shape that is limited by 20 triangles with
equal sides. The virus has a double rotation form. Examples of these viruses are polio and adenovirus.
Helical shaped virus: This virus is like a long rod, the nucleocapsid is not rigid, it is helical in shape, and
has one axis of rotation. Viral RNA is shown above. Examples are influenza virus and Tobacco Mosaic
Virus (TMV). Viruses are complex in shape: As the name suggests, this type of virus has a very complex
structure and is more complete. An example of this virus is Poxyvirus.

3. Based on the envelope that surrounds the nucleoplastid Enveloped or enveloped viruses: ie viruses
that have a nucleoplastid having envelopes of lipoproteins and glycoproteins. For example Poxyvirus,
Togovirus, Retrovirus, and so forth. Naked virus: a type of virus in which the nucleoplastid does not have
an envelope or coating. For example Adenovirus, Reovirus, Papovirus, and 4. Based on the number of
capsomeres Virus 252 capsomeres, such as Adenovirus. Virus 162 capsomeres, such as Herpesvirus.
Virus 72 capsomeres, such as Papovavirus. Virus 60 capsomeres, such as Picornavirus. Virus 32
capsomeres, such as Parvovirus. 5. Based on the host cell Viruses that attack humans, such as HIV.
Viruses that attack animals, such as rabies. Viruses that attack plants, such as TMV. Viruses that attack
bacteria, such as the T virus (bacteriophage).

Viruses that are beneficial Some of the roles of viruses that have a positive or beneficial impact on the
lives of other living things are: Used as biopesticides such as Baculovirus. Viruses are used for making
chromosome maps. Viruses used in the manufacture of vaccines. Viruses are used to change the nature
of bacteria to be useful in the medical field. Viruses are used to produce interferons or proteins
produced by normal cells in response to viral infections.

1. Viruses that attack TMV plants cause mosaic disease in tobacco. Gemini virus causes jaundice in
chilies. Cucumber Mosaic Virus that causes mosaic disease in cucumbers. 2. Viruses that attack animals
Rous Sarcoma Virus that causes tumors in chickens. Coxsachie virus causes foot and mouth disease in
cattle, goats and buffalo. Rhabdovirus causes rabies in warm-blooded animals. 3. Viruses that attack
humans Coronavirus causes the disease Covid-19. Hepatitis Virus causes hepatitis. Ebola Virus causes the
disease Ebola.