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Multiple Choice
Which component of a virus allows the virus to bind to and enter the host cell?
A
Nucleocapsid.
B
Viral envelope.
C
Matrix proteins.
D
Spike proteins.
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Verified step by step guidance
1
Understand that viruses need to attach to host cells to initiate infection. This attachment is facilitated by specific structures on the virus surface.
Identify the role of spike proteins, which are glycoproteins protruding from the viral envelope, in the attachment process.
Recognize that spike proteins interact with specific receptors on the surface of the host cell, allowing the virus to bind to the cell.
Learn that after binding, spike proteins often undergo conformational changes that facilitate the fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane.
Conclude that the spike proteins are crucial for both the attachment and entry of the virus into the host cell, making them a key component in the infection process.