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Glite Dictionary
flavivirus

flavivirus

9.3
A virus spread by mosquitoes that causes diseases like dengue and Zika
  • noun
  • /ˈfleɪvəˌvaɪrəs/
  • Specialized
translation icon : flavivirus
  • Thomas, J.C., Chang, S.H., Ricardo, G., & Charles, M.R. (1990). Flavivirus genome organization, expression, and replication. Annual Review of Microbiology, 44, 649-688.
  • genus Flavivirus

Examples

  • The tick-borne encephalitis virus is a flavivirus, which belongs to the Flaviviridae family.

    Academic text (2011)

  • Simons and colleagues have identified two flavivirus-like genomes, GB-A and GB-B, in tamarins after infection with the GB hepatitis agent.

    Academic text (1996)

  • The good news about that is that Zika is a flavivirus, and we have made vaccines against baby virus, yellow fever.

  • Zika, a serious disease in humans, is caused by a flavivirus that is primarily transmitted by mosquitoes.

  • The flavivirus dengue is responsible for severe flu-like symptoms in infected individuals.

  • Research has shown that the flavivirus family includes pathogens responsible for diseases such as yellow fever and West Nile virus.

Synonyms

virus
vsflavivirus
  • Specialized
857 3.2

A very small germ that can only live inside cells and often causes illness

is a specific genus within that group causing particular human and animal diseases
animal virus
vsflavivirus
  • Specialized
1 3.6

A virus that infects animals, not plants or bacteria

is a specific genus infecting humans and animals

Surface Forms

flavivirus singular
flaviviruses plural

Morphology

flavivirus = virus (semi-transparent) = flavi + virus + flavi

The element 'virus' is fully transparent to learners, but 'flavi-' is a technical combining form (meaning 'yellow') unfamiliar to most general learners, so only part of the word's meaning is inferable.

Etymology

Flavivirus comes from the Latin flavus 'yellow' and virus 'poison' or 'germ'. It was named after the Yellow fever virus in this group, so the name is a helpful reminder that this family includes viruses like yellow fever, dengue, and Zika.