Chapter 29, Problem 11STP

Summary Introduction

To write:

A reason behind the fact that most viruses are limited to attacking only a few types of cells. This might be important information for a medical researcher.

Introduction:

Viruses or intracellular parasites attach themselves to a living cell, moves inside and starts forming its proteins. After this they copy their genome inside and moves out of the cell to infect other cells.

Explanation of Solution

Viruses tend to infect certain host cell only, which are known as permissive cells. Viral receptor on the host cell gives the surface to the virus to attach. The metabolic and immune response in the host cell and the differential gene expression decides the target of viruses for replication. The permissive cell should be able to create the substances that the virus requires otherwise it will not replicate in that host cell.

This information is important for a medical researcher as they work on medicines that help the patient to recover from the disease caused by the particular virus attack. As each virus attack certain host cell like each key fits into a specific lock only. Simple cells like prokaryotic bacteria are also attacked by specific types of viruses.

Conclusion

Viruses tend to infect certain host cell only, which are known as permissive cells.

This information is important for a medical researcher as they work on medicines that help the patient to recover from the disease caused by the particular virus attack.