Question

Given the viral life cycle pictured, identify 3 stages of the cycle which you might target with a therapeutic molecule in order to both (i) prevent or inhibit spread of the virus, and (ii) avoid affecting human cells. Explain your choice in detail in all cases.

Answer 1

All viruses depend on cells for reproduction and metabolic processes. Within a host cell, a virus can commandeer cellular machinery to produce more viral particles.

1) In order to prevent or inhibit spread of the virus the therapeutic molecule should be attached to the biosythetic phase where the viral DNA or RNA utilises protein molecules of host cells and synthesise its own DNA with the help of process reverse transcription. So if we target this phase with these therapeutic molecule it inhibit the process of reverse transcription and hence spread of virus can be prevented.

2) In order to avoid affecting human cells the therapeceutic molecule should attached in the membrane of host cells so it can prevent the attachment of virus into the host cell.When any viral cell come in contact with the host cell the therapeutic molecule attaches to viral cell and inhibit the activity of attachment and hence the viral DNA or RNA will not able to penetrat the host cells(human cells) .