In: Biology
Which steps in the viral replication cycle are the most crucial in infection and which are most crucial to stopping viral infection? Please give reasons why with an example.
The viral replication cycle consists of six steps as-attachment, penetration, uncoating, replication, assembly, and then finally release.
The steps that are most crucial in infection are uncoating and replication of genome. It is because if the viral DNA does not get released from its capsid and enter the genome of the host and get integrated with it, it is not able to make copies of itself and therefore spread infection.
The most crucial step to stop the viral infection is to prevent attachment of the viral cell. It is because if the viral cell does not attach to the host cell, the proteins for penetration and uncoating are also are released.