Viral life cycle

Viral Life Cycle

The Viral Life Cycle (pronunciation: /ˈvaɪrəl/ /laɪf/ /ˈsaɪkəl/) refers to the series of steps or stages that a virus undergoes to infect a host organism and reproduce.

Etymology

The term "Viral Life Cycle" is derived from the Latin "virus" meaning poison, and the Old English "lif" and "cicle" meaning a recurring series of events.

Stages of the Viral Life Cycle

The Viral Life Cycle typically involves the following stages:

1. Attachment: The virus attaches itself to specific receptors on the surface of the host cell.
2. Penetration: The virus or its genetic material enters the host cell.
3. Uncoating: The viral capsid is removed, releasing the viral genome into the host cell.
4. Replication: The viral genome is replicated using the host's cellular machinery.
5. Assembly: New viral particles are assembled within the host cell.
6. Release: The newly formed viruses are released from the host cell, either by causing the cell to burst or by budding off through the cell membrane.

Related Terms

• Virus
• Host
• Virology
• Viral Replication
• Viral Pathogenesis

See Also

• Bacterial Life Cycle
• Parasitic Life Cycle

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