CDC
http://www.cdc.gov/
Viruses go through two cycles: the lytic cycle and the lysogenic cycle.
The Lytic Cycle
The lytic cycle begins with a single virus phage. It goes on a search for the nearest cell, and when it finds one, it will attach itself to it. It will then inject its DNA into the cell and degrade the host's DNA. The cell will then be programmed to produce and synthesize phage DNA and proteins. The phages assemble, and when the cell cannot hold any more, the cell releases them. Afterwards, the cell lyses and dies. The cycle then repeats, but this time with more cells and the number of phages continues to increase exponentially.
the Lysogenic Cycle
The lysogenic cycle is more rare than the lytic cycle.
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In the lysogenic cycle, a viral phage will begin by attaching itself to a cell. The phage injects its DNA into the host cell, and it combines with the cell's DNA. The cell is now said to be infected [with the virus]. The cell continues life normally and keeps dividing, meanwhile distributing the viral DNA among new cells.It keeps dividing until it one day turns into the lytic cycle. The cell will then lyse and die.
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- Bioinformatics- Today, we have learned how to decode viruses' genomes; we can now identify virus proteins and destroy them. Bioinformatics is a branch of science that combines biology and computer science to analyze and sort large quantities of data. To perform this, a researcher enters a virus genome into the virus database. Then, the database sorts through tens of thousand of medications used to treat this virus with the most effective medication.
- Antiviral drugs- Viruses may have different life cycles, but most share some of the same stages: attachment to host cell, sharing of genes, replication of genes in host cell, and apoptosis of host/release of new viruses. When targeted at an early stage, viruses could potentially be stopped. For example, dubbed BP5 can help stop the spread of herpes simplex virus (HSV).