Describe The Function Of A Virus

Viruses are microscopic particles that invade and take over both eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells. They consist of two structures, which are the nucleic acid and capsid. The nucleic acid contains all genetic material in the form of DNA or RNA, and is enclosed in the capsid, which is the protein coating that helps the virus attach to and penetrate the host cell. In some cases, certain viruses have a membrane surrounding the capsid, called an envelope. This structure allows viruses to become more stealthy and protected. There are two cycles in which a virus can go into: lytic and lysogenic. The lytic cycle consists of the virus attaching to a cell, injecting its DNA, and creating more viruses, which proceed to destroy the host. On the other hand, the lysogenic cycle includes the virus attaching to the cell, injecting its DNA, which combines with the cell’s DNA in order for it to become provirus. Then, the provirus DNA may eventually switch to the lytic cycle and destroy the host.

Viruses are coated genetic material that invade cells and use the cell's apparatus for reproduction.

A virus is a small capsule that contains DNA or RNA, viruses, unlike bacteria are not self sufficient and need a host in

The mutation of existing viruses, the spread of existing viruses from one host species to another, and the dissemination of a viral disease from a small, isolated population that can lead to widespread epidemics.

After looking at many articles I believe that viruses are not alive. Even though in the beginning I believed they were. For an object to be alive it needs to have certain characteristics such as being able to: grow, develop, have a purpose, reproduce, adapt, and have cells. A living thing could reproduce which means they would make offspring. Viruses don't have the ability to grow and develop on their own. Viruses don’t have the ability to reproduce on their own without the help of a keeper

A virus is a capsule containing genetic material, even smaller than bacteria. The main task of virus is to reproduce. However, viruses need a suitable host to

Differentiation is when different cells can occur and viruses are unable to make any other kind of cell. They are only able to inject their genes into a host cell to make more copies of itself and nothing else. Viruses are unable to make adaptations to make different types of cells due to the limited amount of genes that they posses. Communication is the signaling within and between cells to adapt to their environment. Viruses are unable to adapt to the environment. Finally, evolution is the genetic change over time which is present in the findings of the mimivirus. The giant virus is closely related to microbes and these viruses along with viruses today can change their genetic material over time to infect other types of cells. This evolution in viruses is able to create more diverse diseases, but only if they have a host cell to replicate and to evolve for them.

Viruses can replicate themselves but only within a host cell in which they hijack as they do not own any translational machinery, so it is unable to create new RNA or DNA fragments or create a new set of virions5. In the first stages of viral replication the virus will attach itself onto a host cell via the glycoprotein spikes which eject off the capsid – this is called adorption6. The virion will then transfer its genomic material whether its RNA or DNA into the host cell via penetration of plasma membranes and this occurs through receptors binding to receptor sites and activating a chain of reactions6,7. The virus will the inject its own genomic material into the host cell which causes the host cell to use its replication techniques to replicate the foreign genome meaning its expressed by the host cell – hijacking the cell6. The genomic material that is now in the cell will be replicated as the cell is infected and will express these new characteristics of the virus instead of being able to carry out its own job. The newly produced proteins and enzymes will now mature within the host cell and group together to form new virions and viruses. After these are fully matured the enzymes produced will catalyse the cell membrane of cells and allows the newly produced viruses to be released into the extracellular environment6. This process of replication is also the way in which viruses adapt to their environments another component of being classed ‘alive’ because they

    The viral capsid acts as the barrier between the world and the most important part of the virus, the nucleic acid. The viral capsid is composed of matrix protein M1 (Virus Structure, fsu.edu) that holds everything together and plays a role in virus assembly. The viral capsid is the backbone of the virus that holds everything together and has three main functions: to protect the nucleic acid from digestion by enzymes, to hold the attachment proteins needed to enter cells, and it provides special sites on the surface that allow the virus to attach to cells.

Collins (1997) stated that Viruses are not true living cells and are much smaller than bacteria. Viruses are composed of a protein coating around genetic material (DNA or RNA) and are unable to reproduce unless they are inside a living cell. Viruses do not multiply in food. They do multiply in cells in various organs or tissues of the body. For example, Hepatitis A virus replicates in cells of the liver. It is quite difficult to isolate viruses on or in food. Normally, the best treatment for viral infections is allowing time (bed rest) for each individual's functioning immune system to combat the virus Viruses are much smaller in size. The viruses differ from bacteria are they cannot live outside without living host human or animals. The two important viruses are Hepatitis A virus and nor viruses

The outside of the virus is an envelope coated in the viral glycoprotein( __G__). Inside the virus, the matrix protein (__M__ ) provides structure to the viral envelope. The viruses genome is single-stranded RNA. This is coated in many copies of the nucleocapsid protein (__N__). The RNA and the N protein together form the ribonucleoprotein core (RNP). The RNP is like a long strand which wraps around the inside of the virus, binding to M, forming a spiral. The other two protein, a polymerase (__L__) and a phosphoprotein (__P__), are also inside the virus.

The structure of viruses allows it to replicate itself and multiply within seconds. This process is called the lytic cycle where hey multiply by attaching themselves to a host cell and infuse the cell with their nucleic acid. This acid takes the host cell hostage and the virus starts to multiply with nucleic acid and its protein coat which leads to the development of new viruses. The host cell is then infected with the new viruses and it bursts. The newly formed viruses then carry on with their lytic cycle by searching for new host cells to

Viruses: viruses are a pathogen that needs a host to survive. They infect cells and the take “selfies” and then there is so many that the explode so they spread to another cell. The thing with viruses are that they can become dormant inside the host and

Virus - A virus is a capsule of protein that contains genetic material. A virus cannot reproduce on its own; it must infect a living cell to grow.

The protective capsid helps the virus escape detection and destruction during the invasion of the host. When the virus reaches the target cell, biochemical reactions between the capsid and cell wall allow the virus to latch on and inject its genome into the cell’s interior. Once inside, the viral genetic material insinuates itself into the host’s DNA or RNA. In an efficient feat of natural bioengineering, the host cell’s genetic machinery now does the rest of the work for the virus. The cell, which had already been making copies of its own genome, now also replicates that of the virus. Coded within the viral material is the blueprint for making more copies of the viral genome. Further instructions command the production of capsids and directions for assembly of new viruses. After the host cell becomes engorged with viruses, it explodes, sending the new