BMI3705 FINAL EXAM - *Q&A* (100%
Correct) 2025 |VERIFIED & UPDATED|
Explain the differences between DNA and RNA viruses in terms of their replication processes.
DNA viruses typically replicate in the host nucleus using the host's DNA polymerase, while RNA
viruses generally replicate in th...
BMI3705 FINAL EXAM - *Q&A* (100%
Correct) 2025 |VERIFIED & UPDATED|
Explain the differences between DNA and RNA viruses in terms of their replication processes.
DNA viruses typically replicate in the host nucleus using the host's DNA polymerase, while RNA
viruses generally replicate in the cytoplasm using RNA-dependent RNA polymerase.
How do viruses cause disease in their host organisms?
Viruses cause disease by infecting host cells, hijacking cellular machinery to replicate, and often
damaging or killing the host cells in the process.
What is the role of viral capsids in the virus lifecycle?
Capsids protect the viral genome from degradation and are involved in the initial stages of
infection by facilitating the virus’s attachment to host cells.
Describe how a virus’s genome influences its ability to infect and replicate within a host.
The virus genome determines the type of host cell it can infect, the replication strategy it uses,
and the viral proteins it produces to aid in infection.
How do viruses evade the host immune system?
Viruses evade the immune system through mechanisms like antigenic variation, inhibiting
immune recognition, or by integrating into the host genome to establish latency.
Explain the concept of viral tropism and its significance in viral infections.
Viral tropism refers to the specific cells or tissues a virus can infect, determined by the presence
of appropriate receptors on the host cell surface.
What is the function of reverse transcriptase in retroviral infections?
Reverse transcriptase converts the viral RNA genome into DNA, which is then integrated into the
host genome for replication and transcription.
1
, How do antiviral drugs targeting protease inhibitors work?
Protease inhibitors block the viral enzyme protease, which is required to process viral proteins
into their functional forms, preventing the production of mature viral particles.
Discuss the differences between latent and persistent viral infections.
Latent infections are dormant but can reactivate at a later time, while persistent infections
involve continuous replication of the virus over an extended period, often causing chronic disease.
What are the key features of a virus's envelope, and how does it affect infectivity?
The viral envelope, made from the host’s cell membrane, contains viral glycoproteins that are
essential for the virus to bind to host cells and facilitate entry.
Describe how viral reassortment leads to the emergence of new viral strains.
Reassortment occurs when two related viruses infect the same host and exchange genetic
material, resulting in a new strain with altered properties, such as virulence or resistance to immunity.
What is the role of neuraminidase in influenza virus replication?
Neuraminidase enables the release of newly formed viral particles from host cells by cleaving
sialic acid residues, preventing viral aggregation and facilitating further infection.
How do vaccines stimulate an immune response against viruses?
Vaccines introduce antigens from a virus to stimulate the production of antibodies and memory
cells, enabling the immune system to respond quickly to future infections.
What is the significance of viral quasispecies in viral evolution?
Quasispecies are populations of genetically diverse viral variants that enhance adaptability and
increase the virus's ability to escape immune responses or adapt to antiviral drugs.
Describe the process of viral entry into a host cell.
2
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