The History of Virology
Virology is the study of viruses and virus-like agents. It is a subfield of microbiology and became widely recognized in the 20th century.
The Beginnings
The first virus was discovered by Dmitri Ivanovsky in 1892. He showed that a disease affecting tobacco plants was caused by an infectious agent.
The 20th Century
With the advent of the electron microscope in the 1930s, virologists could finally isolate and study viruses up close. This led to breakthroughs like the development of the polio vaccine by Jonas Salk.
The Virology of Today
Today, virology is at the forefront of scientific research, especially with the studies surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Fun Fact!
Did you know? Viruses can infect all types of life forms, from animals and plants to microorganisms, including bacteria and archaea!
Learn more about virology in our Advanced Virology section.