In the event of deficiency of folic acid and/or vitamin B12, there will be inhibition of DNA synthesis in red blood cell precursors as well as other cells in the myeloid lineage. This results to continuous cell growth without cell division leading to large, immature red blood cells (hence the term megaloblastic) with low hemoglobin levels. Vitamin B12 deficiency particularly causes neuropathic symptoms such as neuropathic pain and numbness.
If megaloblastic anemia is caused by the resection of the portion of stomach that produces the intrinsic factor (important in the absorption of vitamin B12), then the condition is called pernicious anemia.
Virions are composed largely of nucleic acids and protein. In order to produce more virions, the host cell must synthesize more of these parts through NA replication and protein synthesis.
An infective agent that typically consists of a nucleic acid molecule in a protein coat, is too small to be seen by light microscopy, and is able to multiply only within the living cells of a host.
Any member of a class of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis (splitting of a compound by addition of a water molecule) of starch into smaller carbohydrate molecules such as maltose (a molecule composed of two glucose molecules).
