Question 1

Which of the following best describes the mechanism by which an enveloped animal virus typically enters a host cell?

Accepted Answer

By fusion of the viral envelope with the host cell membrane

Question 2

A patient is diagnosed with a persistent viral infection. Which of the following best characterizes this type of infection?

Accepted Answer

The virus is continuously released over a long period, often leading to fatal outcomes

Question 3

Which enzyme is required for the replication of non-retroviral RNA viruses, but not for DNA viruses?

Accepted Answer

RNA-dependent RNA polymerase ($RDRP$)

Question 4

Which of the following statements about prions is correct?

Accepted Answer

Prions are infectious proteins that cause neurodegenerative diseases

Question 5

A viroid differs from a typical virus in that a viroid:

Accepted Answer

Is a naked RNA molecule that infects plants

Question 6

During the replication of a retrovirus, which sequence of events occurs after the viral RNA genome enters the host cell?

Accepted Answer

The RNA genome is copied into DNA by reverse transcriptase

Question 7

Which of the following best explains why prion diseases are difficult to treat and control?

Accepted Answer

Prions are highly resistant to physical and chemical agents

Question 8

Which step in the animal virus life cycle is responsible for separating the viral genome from its capsid?

Accepted Answer

Uncoating

Question 9

A (+) ssRNA virus infects a host cell. Which of the following best describes the initial use of its genome?

Accepted Answer

It is directly translated into viral proteins by host ribosomes

Question 10

Which of the following is a key difference between the replication of DNA viruses and RNA viruses in animal cells?

Accepted Answer

DNA viruses use host DNA polymerase, while RNA viruses use RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Question 11

A patient develops shingles years after recovering from chickenpox. This is an example of which type of viral infection?

Accepted Answer

Latent infection

Question 12

Which of the following best describes the function of reverse transcriptase in retroviruses?

Accepted Answer

It synthesizes DNA from an RNA template

Question 13

Which of the following is true regarding the genome of viroids?

Accepted Answer

Viroid RNA is replicated by host RNA polymerase

Question 14

Which of the following best explains why retroviruses can establish persistent infections?

Accepted Answer

Their DNA form integrates into the host genome as a provirus

Question 15

Which of the following is a correct sequence of events in the animal virus life cycle?

Accepted Answer

Attachment → Entry → Uncoating → Biosynthesis → Release

Question 16

A (-) ssRNA virus must first perform which step before its genome can be translated into proteins?

Accepted Answer

Synthesize a complementary (+) ssRNA using RNA-dependent RNA polymerase

Question 17

Which of the following is a characteristic of latent viral infections?

Accepted Answer

The virus remains dormant in the host cell and can be reactivated

Question 18

Which of the following best explains why viroids are considered unique infectious agents?

Accepted Answer

They are naked, circular RNA molecules that do not encode proteins

Question 19

Which of the following is a real-world example of a disease caused by prions?

Accepted Answer

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease

Question 20

Which of the following best describes the role of host ribosomes in the animal virus life cycle?

Accepted Answer

They synthesize viral proteins from viral mRNA

Viruses, Viroids, & Prions: Structure, Replication, and Pathogenicity

Study Guide - Practice Questions