User:Wade Cook/Sandbox1: Difference between revisions
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== Smallpox (Variola Virus) - Topoisomerase 1B == | == Smallpox (Variola Virus) - Topoisomerase 1B == | ||
<StructureSection load='3igc' size='350' side='right' caption='Structure of Variola Topoisomerase 1B with DNA (PDB entry [[3igc]])' scene=''> | |||
== Disease == | == Disease == | ||
Smallpox is an acute, highly contagious disease which causes disfiguring and febrile rash-like illness which has no known cure. According to some health experts, smallpox was responsible for more deaths than all other infectious diseases combined thus far in the world's history. Throughout most of human history, the disease caused high morbidity and mortality leading to the deaths of approximately 500 million persons in the 20th century alone. As a result, an intensive public health vaccination campaign was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 1960’s and succeeded in eradicating smallpox as a human disease. There were two forms of the disease worldwide: Variola major, the deadly disease, and Variola minor, a much milder form. Although naturally occurring smallpox no longer exists, the threat of smallpox returning remains due to concerns that the variola virus might exist outside of these repositories and could be used as an agent of bioterrorism or biowarfare. As a result, it is critical to understand the molecular dynamics and virulence factors in order to prepare for a potential epidemic and to prevent the devastating consequences. | Smallpox is an acute, highly contagious disease which causes disfiguring and febrile rash-like illness which has no known cure. According to some health experts, smallpox was responsible for more deaths than all other infectious diseases combined thus far in the world's history. Throughout most of human history, the disease caused high morbidity and mortality leading to the deaths of approximately 500 million persons in the 20th century alone. As a result, an intensive public health vaccination campaign was initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the 1960’s and succeeded in eradicating smallpox as a human disease. There were two forms of the disease worldwide: Variola major, the deadly disease, and Variola minor, a much milder form. Although naturally occurring smallpox no longer exists, the threat of smallpox returning remains due to concerns that the variola virus might exist outside of these repositories and could be used as an agent of bioterrorism or biowarfare. As a result, it is critical to understand the molecular dynamics and virulence factors in order to prepare for a potential epidemic and to prevent the devastating consequences. | ||
[[Image:Smallpoxvirus.gif]] | [[Image:Smallpoxvirus.gif]] | ||
== Function == | == Function == | ||
