Featured Image ©Edmond Alexander And Cynthia Turner | Alexander & Turner, Inc.

Viruses are small parasites which must infect cells to trigger re-production as they are incapable of reproducing alone. Although microscopic, they can present powerful and devastating effects.

Approximately 5000 different viruses have been described in detail at the current time, although it is known that there are millions of distinct types.

Research and detailed depictions of individual viruses and their viral structure have proven to be a powerful tool to further our understanding of these parasitic forms.

Here are a few examinations of viruses, as created by the Medical Illustration Sourcebook artists:

Symmation
Symmation HVC
Hepatitis C is an infectious disease affecting primarily the liver, caused by the hepatitis C virus (HCV). The infection is often asymptomatic, but chronic infection can lead to scarring of the liver and ultimately to cirrhosis, which is generally apparent after many years.

 

Don Albrecht | AlbrechtGFX
AlbrechtGFXVirus
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a member of the Rhabdoviridae family of which Rabies is one. The virus is a single molecule of negative-sense RNA that encodes a glycoprotein, large protein, phosphoprotein, matrix protein, and nucleoprotein. The virus shape has a unique bullet shape.

 

Peg Gerrity
Peg GerrittyVirus
HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. A.I.D.S. H.I.V human immunodeficiency virus.

 

Jon Heras | Equinox Graphics
John Heras Equinox Virus
Engineered bacteria, conceptual image. Bacteria (green) made out of Lego, representing the ability scientists have to alter and rearrange a bacterium’s genetic material. Applications of genetically modified (GM) bacteria include the manufacture of synthetic human insulin to treat diabetes and research into the manufacture of certain proteins, which can block the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from infecting its target cells.

 

Kyle Cunningham
Kyle Cunningham Virus
Murine Polyomavirus Complexed with 3’Sialyl Lactose.

 

Science Source
Science Source Virus
A molecular surface model of the Norwalk virus, a species of Norovirus responsible for viral gastroenteritis.

 

Edmond Alexander And Cynthia Turner | Alexander & Turner, Inc.
Alexander and Turner Virus
Avian flu, commonly called bird flu, refers to “influenza caused by viruses adapted to birds.” Of the greatest concern is highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). All known viruses that cause influenza in birds belong to the species influenza A virus.

 

Ben Smith
Ben Smith-Virus
SV40 Virus Capsid

 

Gregory Lewis | 3DeMotion Inc.

HIV virus moving throughout the human blood system.

 

Brian Hagen | Meditech Communications, Inc
Brian Hagen Meditech Comm
This render depicts a virus caught in a silver matrix about to be devoured by a macrophage.

 

James Archer | Anatomy Blue
James Archer Anatomy Blue Virus
Antibody and Rhinovirus

 

Elaine Kurie
Elaine Kurie Virus
HPV-Induced Cancer

 

Destry Sloane | Animated Biomedical Productions
ABP Virus
In Vitro antiviral activity of Lutein against Hepatitis B Virus.

 

Joanne Haderer Muller, CMI | Haderer & Muller Biomedical Art, LLC
HadererandMullerVirus
A theory for next-generation HIV vaccines is modeled upon the history of broadly neutralizing antibodies (BNAb) response over time. Naive B-cells recognize the HIV virus early on and the antigen-specific population grows and diversifies. Continued exposure to HIV leads to mutation and selection of the most potent B-cells

 

Linda Nye
LindaNyeVirus
Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) Drug Platform uses the specificity of “tiny” 8-mer LNA-based compounds to successfully inhibited miR-122 and dramatically reduce Hepatitis C virus in the liver and in bloodstream chronically infected with the Hepatitis C virus.

Interested in exploring more? Browse hundreds of portfolios and images directly from MedIllSb.com.