Which cycle results in immediate host cell lysis?

Which cycle results in immediate host cell lysis?

• A. Latent
• B. Lytic
• C. Persistent
• D. Lysogenic

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is how a virus propagates and what happens to the host cell. In the lytic cycle, after a virus infects a cell, it hijacks the cell’s machinery to rapidly replicate its genome and assemble new virions. This quick, overwhelming production damages and ultimately ruptures the host cell, releasing the new viruses to infect neighbors. In contrast, the latent/lysogenic routes involve the viral genome staying quiet inside the host. The genome can integrate into the host genome or persist as a dormant element, and it’s replicated along with the cell’s DNA without causing immediate cell lysis. Persistent infections feature ongoing, often slow release of virus while the cell remains alive for a longer period, rather than an abrupt burst of lysis. So, the cycle that leads to immediate host cell destruction and release of many virions right away is the lytic cycle.

The main idea here is how a virus propagates and what happens to the host cell. In the lytic cycle, after a virus infects a cell, it hijacks the cell’s machinery to rapidly replicate its genome and assemble new virions. This quick, overwhelming production damages and ultimately ruptures the host cell, releasing the new viruses to infect neighbors.

In contrast, the latent/lysogenic routes involve the viral genome staying quiet inside the host. The genome can integrate into the host genome or persist as a dormant element, and it’s replicated along with the cell’s DNA without causing immediate cell lysis. Persistent infections feature ongoing, often slow release of virus while the cell remains alive for a longer period, rather than an abrupt burst of lysis.

So, the cycle that leads to immediate host cell destruction and release of many virions right away is the lytic cycle.