Question

Describe how the structure of a virus aids in its ability to infect cells.

Answer 1

Virulence factors of virus aids in its ability to infect cells.  

Explanation:

Virulence factors help pathogenic microbes to infect host cells by virulence mechanisms – invade host, cause and spread disease, evade the defense or immune mechanism of the host. These factors makes the virus to grow, replicate, and modify the host cells due to its toxicity.  

Viruses binds to the receptor protein of the host cell.

Different types of virulent factors are: invasion factors, adhesive or adherent factors, capsules, endo and exotoxins, etc.  

The virulence factors decides the severity and rate of spread of an infection

Answer 2

Capsid proteins interlock with a receptor site on the host cell.

The capsid protein and host cell receptor interlock like a puzzle piece.

Viruses vary in shape to attack the various types of receptors on cells.

The shapes of viruses include polyhedral, helical, enveloped, and complex.

Once the virus attaches to the host cell, it invades the cell and hijacks the DNA of the cell