Virus DNA/RNA Questions

[GDU12]

I have a few questions. Do viruses work without their genetic material? I mean can they still infect cells without genetic material? Does the virus or genetic material get damaged or destroyed if a poison is inserted? If you can answer these, then thanks.

[mith]

poison?

[ping]

To prevent virus from replication you need protease inhibitor in the cases in which the virus RNA encodes polyprotein which is then cleaved. DNA viruses uses the host cell enzymes to replicate ( and RT) and this is not possible for them.

[sdekivit]

I have a few questions. Do viruses work without their genetic material? I mean can they still infect cells without genetic material? Does the virus or genetic material get damaged or destroyed if a poison is inserted? If you can answer these, then thanks.

in order to affect a cell, the genome of a virus is not required. That depends on the permissiveness en capacity of binding of the virus to it's target cell.

--> the genome is required for a succesfull reproductive cycle of the virus in order to spread.

[sdekivit]

To prevent virus from replication you need protease inhibitor in the cases in which the virus RNA encodes polyprotein which is then cleaved. DNA viruses uses the host cell enzymes to replicate ( and RT) and this is not possible for them.

if you mean RT = reverse transcriptase, then you're not talking about DNA viruses

[mith]

Nice to see the virology threads getting answers sdekivit

[ping]

if you mean RT = reverse transcriptase, then you're not talking about DNA viruses

I mean dsDNA viruses like Caulimoviruses!!!
They replicate through RNA intermediates.

[microworld]

The viruses can work without DNA/RNA,such as prion viruses.it can depend the host DNA to finish its replication etc.The typical example is BSE(Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy)

[canalon]

Prion are not viruses....

[MrMistery]

I guess it would depend on what kind of poison you are using. The term poison is very vague. For example, the drug oseltamivir phosphate blocks the viral neuroaminidase of the influenza virus, making it unable to enter a host cell.

Most poisons however, are directed at a virus' replication cycle, after it has entered the cell. A nice example is the cocktail treatment of HIV. More drugs are used so that the replication is slowed down in every stage.

Regards,
Andrew