Viruses: Sabotage of Viral DNA Replication

  • Thread starter Thread starter GRB 080319B
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Dna
AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on whether the immune system or host cells can sabotage viral DNA during the lytic cycle to hinder replication. It is noted that the immune system primarily functions as an intracellular defense, suggesting limited capability in directly interfering with viral DNA. Once a virus integrates its DNA into the host's genome, distinguishing between the two becomes challenging for the host cell due to the specialized nature of DNA replication. However, there are methods to impede viral DNA integration, such as certain antibiotics that block proteins necessary for delivering viral DNA. Overall, while the host cell may struggle to differentiate and combat integrated viral DNA, there are potential strategies to disrupt the replication process.
GRB 080319B
Messages
107
Reaction score
0
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?
 
Biology news on Phys.org
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. I am a little rusty with my science. Looking to get back into a MD or PhD program after a few years outta college.
 
I've been reading a bunch of articles in this month's Scientific American on Alzheimer's and ran across this article in a web feed that I subscribe to. The SA articles that I've read so far have touched on issues with the blood-brain barrier but this appears to be a novel approach to the problem - fix the exit ramp and the brain clears out the plaques. https://www.sciencealert.com/new-alzheimers-treatment-clears-plaques-from-brains-of-mice-within-hours The original paper: Rapid amyloid-β...

Similar threads

Back
Top