Sabotage of viral DNA

[GRB 080319B]

Does the immune system system or do host cells have any way of sabotaging the DNA of viruses during the lytic cycle, so that even if they do replicate, they are not as effective in replicating as the initial virus? Is there any other way, if apoptosis has been inhibited, for the host cell to impede the replication process?

[skisci]

The immune system is mainly an intracellular defense system. So no.

As for the host cell:

Once the virus's DNA is integrated into the host's DNA, I am not sure the host cell can tell the difference. DNA replication is too specialized and basic to sort and identify the DNAs origin. (as long as the promoters and TATTA boxes are still there)

However I do believe there are methods to interfere with the DNA integration. A certain class of antibiotics, at least, blocks cooperating proteins from delivering the viral DNA.

Take my summation with a grain of salt. Im a little rusty with my science. Looking to get back into a MD or PhD program after a few years outta college.