A biotechnology company is developing a type of medication that interferes with the infection cycle of the COVID-19 virus. The medication blocks an important enzyme that the COVID-19 virus requires in order to make functional virus particles.

Question

Where should this process take place based on the infection cycle?
A.The host cell, since viral nuclei are replicated within a host cell.
B.The cell’s surface, since viruses reproduce only outside of a host cell.
C.The host cell, since viruses reproduce only within a host cell.
D.The cell’s surface, since viruses contain a nucleus that replicates virus particles.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

C. The host cell, since viruses reproduce only within a host cell.

The COVID-19 virus, like other viruses, requires a host cell to replicate and produce functional virus particles. Blocking an enzyme that the virus needs inside the host cell would interfere with its ability to complete its infection cycle.