What happens when a virus infects a cell?

What happens when a virus infects a cell?

What happens when a virus infects a cell?

The cell makes so many copies of the virus that it can cause the cell membrane to rupture, explode, lyse! Even worse, now these new viral copies get out of the cell, and they infect other cells and repeat the process. Some viruses may remain dormant inside host cells for long periods, causing no obvious change in their host cells.

How does a virus dissolve in a host cell?

Some enveloped viruses can dissolve right through the cell membrane of the host because both the virus envelope and the cell membrane are made of lipids. Those viruses that do not enter the cell must inject their contents (genetic instructions, enzymes) into the host cell.

How does a virus stay dormant in a cell?

Some viruses may remain dormant inside host cells for long periods, causing no obvious change in their host cells. That’s a sneaky little bugger! So, when the host cell replicates, it also unknowingly replicates the virus’s DNA material…the lysogenic phase.

What makes up the virion of a virus?

Virions consist of genetic material—DNA or RNA enclosed in a protein coating. Many viruses, called enveloped viruses, have an additional outer membrane that encloses the protein coat.

What happens when a virus takes over a cell?

Viruses cause a lot of diseases. The cell uses its own resources to build copies. It becomes an unwitting pawn in the virus’s sick game… the lytic phase. The cell makes so many copies of the virus that it can cause the cell membrane to rupture, explode, lyse!

Virions consist of genetic material—DNA or RNA enclosed in a protein coating. Many viruses, called enveloped viruses, have an additional outer membrane that encloses the protein coat.

How does a virus bind to the plasma membrane?

Which of these routes is followed depends on the type of virus. In fusion with the plasma membrane, the virus binds to a protein in the cell membrane. The function of this cellular protein (a receptor for the virus, shown in green) is perverted to induce a conformational change in the viral fusion protein, leading to fusion.

How many copies does a virus have of its fusion protein?

The viral surface of an individual virion contains multiple copies of its fusion protein. Influenza virus, for example, typically contains 500–1000 copies, whereas HIV contains only about a dozen copies (1, 2). A virion’s machinery is so efficient that each cell infected by even a single virion can produce about a million new virions.