Question

Who coined the term virus?
A. Dmitri Ivanowsky
B. Pasteur
C. M.W. Beijerinck
D. Meyer

Answer 1

Hint: He was a French microbiologist and chemist who is well known for his works and discoveries in the fields of vaccination, pasteurization, and fermentation. He has also provided detailed information about the causes and prevention of microbial diseases.

Complete answer:
The term ‘virus’ had been coined by Louis Pasteur when he was studying the disease Rabies and he categorized the disease as an infectious disease. He was a French microbiologist and chemist and was famous for his works in the field of viral diseases. A virus is a nucleoprotein entity capable of multiplication by taking over the cellular machinery of the host cell without involving growth and division. The multiplication involves the synthesis of parts followed by their assembly. Smallpox and Polio are some well-known prehistoric diseases caused by viruses. Depending upon the host, viruses are called a bacteriophage, coliphage, cyanophage, mycophage, etc. A bacteriophage has been shown below-

Structurally, a virus consists of an envelope, capsid, nucleoid, and occasionally an enzyme. The protoplasm is absent in viruses and there is no energy storing and utilizing machinery available. Motility and irritability are also absent. The metabolic machinery of the host cell is utilized for the synthesis and assembly of the viral components. The viral particles are inert outside the host cells and in a cell-free environment, they are called virions.

So, the correct answer is ‘Pasteur’.

Note:
Dmitri Ivanowsky was the discoverer of viruses and the founder of virology and discovered a virus when he was investigating for the cause of Tobacco Mosaic disease, which is an infection that causes tobacco leaves to discolor. Beijerinck called viruses as living infectious fluids or contagium vivum fluidum. Adolf Meyer was not related to viruses and was simply a psychiatrist.