What stage of a viral infection determines the ability of a virus to infect a cell?
Understand the Problem
The question is asking about which specific stage of a viral infection is crucial for a virus's ability to infect a host cell. This involves understanding the lifecycle of viruses and how they interact with host cells to initiate infection.
Answer
Entry stage determines a virus's ability to infect a cell.
The stage of a viral infection that determines the ability of a virus to infect a cell is the 'entry' stage, which involves the virus attaching and penetrating the host cell.
Answer for screen readers
The stage of a viral infection that determines the ability of a virus to infect a cell is the 'entry' stage, which involves the virus attaching and penetrating the host cell.
More Information
The entry stage is crucial for viral infectivity. During this phase, the virus attaches to the host cell surface and penetrates it, beginning the infection process. Successful attachment and penetration are necessary for the virus to utilize the host's cellular machinery for replication.
Tips
A common mistake is confusing the entry stage with later stages like replication or release. Entry is specifically about the initial interaction with the host cell, which is fundamental for starting an infection.
Sources
- Virus Life Cycle - PMC - NCBI - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Intro to viruses (article) - Khan Academy - khanacademy.org
