Herpesvirus is a virus that causes infections in humans, including which of the following?

• A. A A bacterium
• B. B Infections such as herpes, cytomegalovirus, chickenpox, and shingles
• C. C A fungus
• D. D A prion

Answer: (B)

Herpesviruses are a family of viruses that cause a variety of infections in humans. The infections listed—herpes simplex infections, cytomegalovirus infection, chickenpox, and shingles—are all caused by members of this virus group (varicella-zoster virus causes chickenpox and shingles; cytomegalovirus is CMV; herpes simplex virus causes oral/genital herpes). Other options describe different kinds of infectious agents: bacteria are cellular organisms, fungi are a separate kingdom of organisms, and prions are misfolded proteins. So the best choice is the one that names infections caused by herpesviruses.