I'm a Virus! (Mr. W's Virus Rap)

SUMMARY: This video teaches about virus structure and life cycles, including the lytic cycle, the lysogenic cycle, and the life cycle of HIV.

Key Credits
Phage images for lytic and lysogenic cycles by Hyglos GMBH, used by permission
Images of HIV infection cycle by National Institute for Allergies and Infectious Diseases

LYRICS
I'm a virus, an infectious particle,
a nano-thug, a pirate, the genuine article
Ebola, chickenpox, west Nile, influenza,
yellow fever, AIDS, herpes, SARS, I'm comin' right at ya

I'm not a cell, not an independent organism,
I don't even have my own metabolism,
I only reproduce myself by taking over cells,
Then I bust 'em apart, no wonder you don't feel well!

My structure is simple, mostly proteins and genes,
Packaged as a sub-micron killing machine,
My capsid's made of capsomeres that self assemble,
Whenever cells see me they start to tremble,

Inside my capsid is where my genes reside,
I got DNA or RNA on the inside,
And the rest of me is various proteins whose role,
Is assisting in assaulting cells and taking control.

CHORUS
I'm a virus,
Gonna use your cells to replicate me
I'm a virus
The death of your cells is the life of me

The lytic cycle shows one method of attack,
I attach to the cell surface, and pierce it like a tack
Inject my genes inside, use my victim's machinery,
to make my genes and proteins for reproducing more of me.

Step 1, tail fibers grab the membrane or the wall
2: inject my genes, this cell is gonna fall.
3: use the victim's polymerase and ribosomes,
To synthesize my proteins and replicate my genome.

4: tail piece and capsid self assembly,
5: I'm all together now, look at all my progeny
6 is lysis, I burst that cell apart,
Now I'm looking for more victims I can dearly depart.

CHORUS

Sometimes instead of lysing I lysogenize
Which happens after I inject my genes inside
I slip into your chromosome a thief inside your room
A menacing and silent presence bringer of doom

Integrated in you, your DNA's my home,
And see what happens when you replicate your chromosomes
Each copy that you copy copies me as well as you,
You might make a million copies, there's nothin' you can do

My lurking hiding being's called a prophage or provirus,
And if you got another name just call us or wire us,
Or write it on papyrus 'til the moment that I emerge,
from your DNA I'm lytic now a cell destroying scourge.

And suddenly your cells are dying watch me as I lyse them,
I'm a pirate so forget your plans my program now denies them,
Your cells are virus factories they're making millions more of me
I leave your cells and now I'm free Infecting you's my destiny

CHORUS

Now meet my associate the virus HIV
Who's helpless target is the cell called "T"
HIV causes immunodeficiency,
Raising cancer and infection vulnerability

Remember that the T's an essential cell
In the immune system army it's the general
So knocking out the T-cell sets the stage
For cancers, germs and viruses like me to invade!

HIV's genes are made of RNA,
Outside its capsid's a phospholipid membrane,
A skin stolen from the cell it last dispatched,
studded with proteins that let it attach,

To a protein on the T-cell called CD4
Inducing that cell to open up its door,
Inviting in HIV's enzymes and core,
That T-cell's already done for.

HIV's a retrovirus its next routine,
has to do with transforming its RNA genes ...

[heatherstone]

I have a Microbiology exam tomorrow at University.... I know I'm just gonna be sat there staring blankly at my paper humming "I'm a... VIRUS!".

I'm so gonna fail.

[kirbbird]

See, THIS is how kids should learn science: with awesome raps by this guy

[sciencemusicvideos]

Your class's laughter makes me really happy! And thanks for complimenting my rapping...I'm working on it!
Mr. W

[vladimirok]

This was on my biology teacher's powerpoint when we were learning about viruses

[m_rx]

Corona Virus been real quiet since this

[ambsv]

I have a test in 4 hours and this is saving my life! Thank you so much!

[taylormancil]

Coming back to this during Coronavirus season!

[Goldradish]

Was reading a LN called The God Virus and the MC is an AI (Artificial intelligence who's name is virus) and his ring tone was the first part of this song. Came just to see if it was an actual song and here I am

[monj]

"Whenever cells see me.... They start to tremble"

LMAO

[ilovepiedoyou]

I have a big biology test tomorrow and I've just been sitting here watching all your videos

[sciencemusicvideos]

Thanks! No one's ever called me an MC! Help me spread the word about these raps on facebook, tweeting, whatever.
Really appreciate your support,
Mr. W.

[melissaknab]

I've learned more in these videos than the entire quarter at my college. Thanks !!!

[grumpycraft]

It has a nice jam and it's very easy to understand

[sciencemusicvideos]

Thanks, Jesse! It's great to hear from my own students!
Mr. W

[cryebral]

its been 6 years and i still love this video

[sciencemusicvideos]

Thanks so much! Please help spread the word: post on facebook, tweet, tell your friends, your teachers...
Mr. W

[jayliu]

Thank you so much for your inspirational videos that make me laugh and science more interesting. I am studying Biochemistry and it gets difficult at times and sometimes I want to give up and it's videos like these that make me have the strength to try again. Thank you for helping me learn and inspiring me, keep making videos. It helps a lot. Blessings to you!

[melissalaposta]

You are awesome! Thanks! My daughter is in 6th grade and has a unit test tomorrow. She watched your videos and loved them. So do I.

[RegicideFm]

The funniest thing is that this probably more closely related to rap compared to modern rap.

I'm more than happy to give the 100th like for this! :D

[kariannesgranli]

Your videos are amazing. and really helpful!