Any of various simple submicroscopic parasites of plants, animals, and bacteria that often cause disease and that consist essentially of a core of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein coat. Unable to replicate without a host cell, viruses are typically not considered living organisms.

Something that poisons one's soul or mind: the pernicious virus of racism.

Computer Science. A computer virus.

A small entrance hall or passage between the outer door and the interior of a house or building.

Anatomy. A cavity, chamber, or channel that leads to or is an entrance to another cavity.

Any of a group of glycoproteins that are produced by different cell types in response to various stimuli, such as exposure to a virus, bacterium, parasite, or other antigen, and that prevent viral replication in newly infected cells.

Var. inteferon. One more of Sadako's chosen infected. The new strain?

Smallpox has killed more people than any other infectious disease in human history; in the 20th century alone, it killed about three times more people than all the wars combined (400 million vs. 111 million).