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Guilherme Mazui

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What is the Difference Between Vaccinia and Variola Virus?

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Vaccinia and variola viruses are both members of the Orthopoxvirus genus, but they have distinct characteristics and effects on their hosts.

Vaccinia virus:

  • Causes vaccinia infections.
  • Belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus and has a linear double-stranded DNA of 190 kb in length, encoding for approximately 250 genes.
  • Has been used as a smallpox vaccine for the past 200 years.
  • May cause rash, fever, and head and body aches in some cases.

Variola virus:

  • Causes smallpox infections.
  • Belongs to the genus Orthopoxvirus and has a linear double-stranded DNA of 186 kbp in length.
  • The causative agent of smallpox, a serious illness characterized by the eruption of small pocklike lesions throughout the skin and internal organs.
  • Has a mortality rate of approximately 30%.

The key difference between vaccinia and variola viruses is that vaccinia virus is an enveloped virus that causes vaccinia infections, while variola virus is an enveloped virus that causes smallpox infections.

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  • What is the Difference Between Vaccinia and Variola Virus?
  • Comparative Table: Vaccinia vs Variola Virus

    • Comparative Table: Vaccinia vs Variola Virus

    Vaccinia and Variola viruses are both members of the orthopoxvirus family, but they have distinct characteristics and effects. Here is a table comparing the differences between the two viruses:

    Characteristic Vaccinia Virus Variola Virus
    Causes Vaccinia virus is the causative agent of smallpox. Variola virus is the causative agent of smallpox.
    Origin Vaccinia virus may represent a hybrid of the Variola and cowpox viruses. Variola virus is believed to have started infecting humans approximately 10,000 years ago.
    Vaccination Vaccinia virus has been used as a vaccine to eradicate Variola virus worldwide. Variola virus has never been used as a vaccine.
    Effects Vaccinia virus is less virulent than Variola virus and is used as a vaccine to protect against smallpox. Variola virus is highly contagious and highly morbid, with approximately 30% mortality.

    Although both viruses cause smallpox, the Vaccinia virus is less virulent and has been used as a vaccine to eradicate the more dangerous Variola virus.

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    Guilherme Mazui

    Guilherme Mazui is graduated in journalism from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG) and a master's degree in Communication from the University of São Paulo (USP). In addition, he has experience in advertising writing and has worked as a content editor in several companies.