Virology

Virology is the study of viruses, which are small genetic elements that are similar to one of our own genes. Viruses differ from our own genes in that one of these “selfish DNA or RNA molecules” is basically a small set of instructions that can hijack a cell, halt its normal metabolic activity, and re-direct the cell to become a virus factory that does nothing but make hundreds of very small virus particles that can then spread to neighboring cells in the body or to other new hosts (e.g., your family and friends).

The virology research programs at MSU seek to understand the biology of viruses that are unique in their medical relevance, genetic properties, or ability to survive in extraordinarily harsh environments (e.g., boiling acid). The training of a new generation of virologists who understand both the biology of the virus and the biology of the host is essential if we are to solve real-world virology problems such as AIDS, which currently claims the lives of over 8,000 people per day worldwide.