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Viruses attach to living cells by binding to the cell receptors. The receptor site is very much like a jig-saw puzzle and the virus must be shaped to fit the site and to lock in. The virus first sticks to the cell membrane of the host cell. The virus then inserts its DNA/RNA into the cell's cytoplasm. Once inside the host cell, the virus is uncoated, i.e. its capsid is dispersed, exposing the DNA/RNA. The DNA/RNA then takes over the host cell. The virus makes the cell produce new viral DNA/RNA and new capsomeres (proteins make up the capsid). The nucleic acid and the capsomeres are assembled in the cell to make new virus particles which escape from the cell. The cell might lyse and release new viruses to infect other cells.

Examples of viral infection are cold sore, measles and chicken pox.

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What are spikes on viruses made of?

Spikes on viruses are made up of proteins that are used to attach the virus to host cells. These proteins play a critical role in allowing the virus to enter and infect host cells by binding to specific receptors on the cell membrane.


What function do capsids perform?

Capsids are protein coats that protect the genetic material of a virus. They help viruses to attach to and enter host cells, as well as shield the viral genome from environmental damage. Capsids also assist in the release of the viral genetic material into host cells during infection.


Why are viruses hard to cultivate in the laboratory?

Viruses are hard to cultivate in the laboratory because they require living host cells to replicate. This dependency on living cells makes it challenging to maintain viruses outside of a host organism. Additionally, viruses can be very specific about the types of cells they can infect, which further complicates the cultivation process.


What infectious agent live only by invading cells?

Viruses are infectious agents that can only replicate and survive by invading host cells and hijacking their cellular machinery. Once inside a host cell, viruses use the cell's resources to produce more viral particles, which can then go on to infect other cells. This process ultimately leads to the destruction of the host cell as new viruses are released to infect additional cells.


How can viruses grow and develop within a host organism?

Viruses grow and develop within a host organism by attaching to host cells, injecting their genetic material, and hijacking the host cell's machinery to replicate themselves. This process can lead to the destruction of the host cell and the spread of the virus to other cells in the organism.

Related Questions

How do viruses attach themselvs to host cells?

Viruses have to attach them selves by way of a protein called a recognition factor. They bind to receptors on the host cell and then lose their capsid (coat).


How do viruses attache themselves host cells?

Viruses have to attach them selves by way of a protein called a recognition factor. They bind to receptors on the host cell and then lose their capsid (coat).


What are spikes on viruses made of?

Spikes on viruses are made up of proteins that are used to attach the virus to host cells. These proteins play a critical role in allowing the virus to enter and infect host cells by binding to specific receptors on the cell membrane.


Are viruses general or specific to the cells that they infect?

viruses are specific to the cells they infect called host cells


What is the part of the cell that viruses invade?

Viruses can infect animals, plants and bacteria, and the attachments vary. In animal viruses: Animal cells have a cell membrane. Viruses attach to certain proteins in that membrane. In plant viruses: Plants can also be infected with viruses. Since they have cell walls, viruses attach to those when infecting plants. In bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria): Special viruses called bacteriophages attach to the cell walls of bacteria by way of proteins.


Can cancer viruses infect cells if they don't have tails?

Cancer viruses, like all viruses, require specific mechanisms to infect host cells, typically involving the binding of viral proteins to cell receptors. The presence or absence of tails in viruses generally refers to structural characteristics and does not directly determine their ability to infect cells. Many viruses without tails, such as certain types of retroviruses, can still effectively attach to and enter host cells. Therefore, viruses can infect cells regardless of their structural features, as long as they possess the necessary components for attachment and entry.


What function do capsids perform?

Capsids are protein coats that protect the genetic material of a virus. They help viruses to attach to and enter host cells, as well as shield the viral genome from environmental damage. Capsids also assist in the release of the viral genetic material into host cells during infection.


What can viruses attach themselves to?

Viruses can attach themselves to host cells, bacteria, fungi, and other viruses for the purpose of infecting and replicating within these organisms. They require a specific receptor on the surface of the target cell to bind and gain entry for their replication process.


Do viruses reproduce inside host cells causing them to burst?

Yes, viruses can reproduce inside host cells by hijacking the host cell's machinery to make copies of themselves. This can cause the host cell to burst, releasing the newly formed viruses to infect other cells.


How do viruses survive inside the human body?

Viruses survive inside the human body by hijacking host cells to replicate and propagate. They attach to specific receptors on cell surfaces, enter the cells, and use the host's cellular machinery to produce new viral particles. Additionally, many viruses can evade the immune system through various mechanisms, such as mutating their surface proteins or hiding within cells, allowing them to persist and spread within the host.


Why do viruses kill?

Your host cells in your body.


Why is protein synthesis important for cells and viruses?

Protein synthesis is important for viruses because the virus forces the host cell to make proteins that the cell does not need, but the virus does to repoduce. Protein synthesis is important for cells because the proteins are essential for all cellular activites.