The Trouble with Viruses (SVA)

Watch the video below: Flu Virus

In at least 150 words please state whether you agree with the following statement or not and explain why.

Viruses present a far greater threat than other types of pathogen (e.g. bacteria, fungi, protist) to the human population.

You may have to research further on the internet to answer this question effectively. If you do please include references.

DUE DATE: You must post a reply by the start of your second class during Week 29 (11/10/10)

i think that viruses are much more harmful than other pathogens because they can multiply easily and quickly and are more difficult to stop spreading.
they are composed by DNA or RNA, then a protein cover and then a lipid bilayer so is is difficult for the immune system to detect the sequence of aminoacids that code for that specific virus as it is covered, making it impossible for the immune system cells to attack them as they need the amino acid sequence to be able to kill the viruses. then, they have more time to multiply until there are millions of them attacking any part of our body.
viruses are more dangerous than other pathogens because they can spread through air and that is enough for them to enter our body; bacterias instead, spread generaly through contact between mucous membranes.
bacterias can die using antibiotics, but viruses are more difficult to fight. viruses dont die if they are outside an organism and start working again when they are within a living organism.
finally, a lot of syndromes and diseases that lead to death without cure, for example AIDS, are caused by viruses because the immune system cannot recognise the amino acid sequence and therefore cannot fight them.

Viruses main difference with respect to bacteria’s is that they are unable to reproduce by themselves (such us the video shows), what they need to reproduce is a medium or home which we call “host” and that’s the same reason why they are more dangerous than bacteria. On the other side we have bacteria, who multiply themselves with no need of a host and they are harmless to the body or even there are some which have positive effects on the body. Another reason for us to say that viruses are more dangerous than bacteria is that if we where to find a maligner bacteria in our body, with the use of antibiotics we could stop if from harming our body; while viruses do not have a cure at the moment even though there are some ways to prevent viruses (vaccines) there is no cure for them. This makes it more difficult to eliminate totally a virus there for it is a greater threat than bacterias.

although bacteria seems to be much more harmfull than viruses, we can prove with this video that this isn't true. its true that bacteria can reproduce by their own very quickley and that they do not need a media to do so. but they can be treated with antibiotics, and can be easily attacked. viruses, by the other hand, reproduce a lot faster that bacteria, and cant be treated with antibiotics. viruses can get in your body very quickley, and produce you harm, specificly if your inmune system is low or weak. thats why viruses are or can be a lot more harmfull than bacteria.

I think that viruses are far more dangerous than bacteria, not only because they are harder to kill, but also because they can reproduce far more easily than bacteria, making them more dangerous. As viruses dont need a membrane to transport unlike bacteria, you can get infected far more easily, and the treatment for viruses is more complex that the treatment for bacteria. There is also the point that viruses tend to reproduce very quickly, making an infection uncontrollable without the right treatment. It is also more difficult for the body to detect the virus, because it has a lipid layer that covers its sequence of amino acids, making it harder for the body to defend itself.

Eventhough there are some types of bacteria which are more harmfull than viruses, some of them as well dont have negative effects on the body all the time.
I think that viruses are more dangerous than bacteria because what happens with viruses is that they are constantly changing or mutating, so fighting against them is very difficut, there is no specific record in the cell memory about the previews pathogen so they are more difficult detect.
they are able to reproduce far more quickly making the infection , in some cases, uncontroled and have a harder healing process than bacteria or other pathogen if theres is no correct treatment. The fact that they dont need a membrane to transport themselves makes you more vulnerable to be infected.
we are able to kill bacteria by the use of antibiotics, vaccines tec... while using this with viruses will be inefficient

I think that viruses present a bigger threat to the body than bacteria, fungi and protoctistan. This is because, even though the virus needs to be inside the host to reproduce, it does so much more quickly than bacteria. Viruses also live off the host, meaning they use up nutrients that are intended for other purposes.
a virus cannot be destroyed by antibiotics, because antibiotics can only kill living things, and a virus is not alive, therefore you depend only on your immune system to fight the virus, which can sometimes be hard because the viruses have a lipid layes covering the sequence of amino acids, making it hard for the immune system to identify them.

Viruses are more dangerous than bacteria, they spread diseases. It is important to mention the reproduction of both; viruses need a media to reproduce, they do it extremely quickly, and reproduce easily. By the other hand, bacteria can reproduce its self by its own, and do not need a media to do it. As viruses can reproduce quickly, they also get infected quickly, this makes viruses become more dangerous, it produces harm, and treatments are difficult to realize. Bacteria, sometimes can also make a positive effect in our bodies, they can be useful, and if there is any case which it is bad for our bodies, it can be treated with antibiotics. Viruses can’t be treated with antibiotics, which give another argument giving a reason why viruses are dangerous than bacteria.

I do not agree with the notion of viruses presenting a far greater threat than other types of pathogen (e.g. bacteria, fungi, protist) to the human population, for a great number of reasons.

Firstly, not all the viruses are malevolent, some are rather used for the treatment of the diseases rather than to cause them, for example in virotherapy, where viruses are used to target DNA and target cells. Secondly and lastly, seeing that viruses, bacteria and fungi all can cause lethal and terminal diseases of the same nature, why should viruses be viewed any differently than the others?, they all have channels of infection in which they make people sick, maybe in different ways but with the same repercussions on the organisms. If somoene dies,it doesnt really matter if it was due to cholera or dengue since he is completely dead, lifeless.

I think that viruses are more dangerous than bacteria or other types of pathogens. Viruses reproduce much quicker than bacteria and also they are more difficult to stop spreading. Also I think that viruses are more dangerous because they can not be killed by antibodies and the treatment for someone who wants to fight a virus is much more complicated and difficult.

I agree with the statement that "Viruses present a far greater threat than other types of pathogen (e.g. bacteria, fungi, protist) to the human population" because diseases causeed by viruses are fra more contagious and spread far more quickly than those caused by other pathogens. Therefore, there are more people at risk of getting these kinds of diseases. Another reason why they present a bigger threat is because these diseases are so much harder to treat than others caused by bacteria, for example which can be cured with the use of antibiotics. Viruses also multiply faster than any other pathogen, and are harder to read, so the antibodies take longer to form in our inmmune system, so it takes longer for the body to attack them than other pathogens.

"Viruses present a far greater threat than other types of pathogen (e.g. bacteria, fungi, protist) to the human population". I agree because viruses affect quicker than other types of pathogen. The effect of a dissease caused by viruses affects you quicker and also these disseases are more difficult to cure. Therefore these shows you that are a far greater threat than other types. Also they mutate far more quicker so our bodies take more time to produce the antibodies. In conclusion, they are more effective as dissease, so they attack quicker and your bodies takes more time to protect, therefore pathogens are less threatening.

1) In my opinion the advertisement is effective because it shows in a simple way the negative effects of inhaling cigarette smoke. The graphics show clearly the damage made to your lungs and even brain. The path showed in the video of each part of the respiratory system is brutal and it is easy to understand, making it more effective for all age groups, young smokers as well as experienced ones that may have not known the damaging effects of the cigarettes.

2) If I was to design an ad of anti smoking, I would show real life shocking images of the damaged organs and victims that terminated very affected by the smoking. They say an image can say a thousand words, and in this case I think its the most effective way. Also testimonies of people who have suffered from the consequences, and to spread their own message in the best way possible to make people realize. And lastly, I would also send a message of the damage caused to other people around when you smoke, because many people forget about the collateral damages that smoking implies.

1) In my opinion the advertisement is effective because it shows in a simple way the negative effects of inhaling cigarette smoke. The graphics show clearly the damage made to your lungs and even brain. The path showed in the video of each part of the respiratory system is brutal and it is easy to understand, making it more effective for all age groups, young smokers as well as experienced ones that may have not known the damaging effects of the cigarettes.

2) If I was to design an ad of anti smoking, I would show real life shocking images of the damaged organs and victims that terminated very affected by the smoking. They say an image can say a thousand words, and in this case I think its the most effective way. Also testimonies of people who have suffered from the consequences, and to spread their own message in the best way possible to make people realize. And lastly, I would also send a message of the damage caused to other people around when you smoke, because many people forget about the collateral damages that smoking implies.

Viruses present a far greater threat than other types of pathogen because as we see in the video, they can enter the body and once inside, they can enter a host cell and replicate in huge quantities. Then they are released and the reproduction of the virus inside the individual is almost uncontrolled (it is controlled by the immune system). Some viruses can hide from the immune system, staying inactive. Some viruses can replicate continually despite the host's defense mechanisms. Some viruses can even survive outside the host; therefore the possibilities of infecting another individual are unquestionably high. Viruses are extremely contagious; therefore they can easily become endemic. They are easily transferred from one individual to another, so it is hard to stop its spread. This is why they are a bigger threat to the human population than bacteria and other pathogens that unlike viruses can be treated with antibiotics.