7th Grade Science Student ebook

7.3 VIRUSES

CHAPTER 7: THE MICROSCOPIC WORLD

How viruses infect cells

Host cells

become factories

for the virus

When some viruses come into contact with host cells, they trigger

the cells to engulf them. Other viruses fuse themselves to the cell

membrane and release their DNA into the cell. Once inside, the

viral DNA changes the function of the cell. The cell now becomes a

factory that produces new viruses. Eventually the infected cell dies

and bursts, freeing the new viruses. In some cases, new viruses just

pinch off so the cell remains alive.

Viruses and

host cells

A virus must be able to get its DNA inside of a cell before it can

multiply. The cell membrane controls what enters the cell. How

does a virus trick a cell into letting it enter? The “lock and key”

mechanism is the most common explanation. Certain proteins on

the virus’ protein coat must fit certain receptor sites on the host’s

cell membrane (Figure 7.12). If the proteins fit, the virus can enter

and infect the cell. If the proteins do not fit, the virus cannot enter

the cell or fuse with its cell membrane. Thus the viral DNA cannot

enter the cell and cause an infection.

Figure 7.12: If the proteins fit, the

virus can infect the cell.

A tank crashes through the walls of

a car factory. People in the tank

get out and turn the car factory into

a tank factory. An analogy is a way

to find similarities between things

that are different. How does this

analogy explain how a virus

reproduces? Try and think of

another analogy for how a virus

reproduces.