Virus question...

[biodawgz]

The question is true or false: All virus particles produced from infected cells are infectious.

I find this to be very confusing. On the one hand, some virions are non-infective if they become damaged or are missing part of the genome in the cell. I know that a virus particle is non-infective if it cannot replicate, but am not sure if 'produced' means replicated.

Is the question saying this: A cell is injected with a virus. Are all virus particles that replicate infectious?

or is it saying. A cell is injected with a virus. Are all the virus particles from this injection in the cell infectious.

[jonmoulton]

I'd read that question as asking whether all of the viral particles released from an infected cell are also infectious.

[biodawgz]

and would you agree with me, that No they are not.

[jonmoulton]

"some virions are non-infective if they become damaged or are missing part of the genome in the cell"

[biohazard]

I think many viruses, especially those with high mutation rates such as retroviruses, produce vast numbers of viral particles that are not infectious. Many mutations easily render some crucial receptor-binding protein or viral enzyme inactive, and thus the virus cannot infect its target cells.