A history of virology

Abstract

Virology was born at the end of the 19th century from the recognition of so-called filterable infectious agents that passed through filters designed to retain bacteria. The study of these agents, in particular the tobacco mosaic virus and bacteriophages, has shown the originality of their structural and physico-chemical properties while stimulating the development of molecular biology. Animal viruses, in addition to their own characterization, have served as probes to explore the molecular functioning of eukaryotic cells, including genome organization, transcriptional regulation and mechanisms of oncogenesis. In the early 1960s, a precise definition of virions and mode of virus replication as well as an internationally recognized classification based on the molecular properties of these agents were published. Understanding the pathophysiology of viral infections over the past decades has led to the identification of many new viruses and the development of standardized procedures for virological diagnosis, specific antiviral chemotherapy and effective vaccinations. Combined with the success of more basic studies, these advances have contributed to the exceptionally positive record of virology over the past hundred year.