Describe how the structure of a virus aids in its ability to infect cells.

Virulence factors of virus aids in its ability to infect cells.  

Explanation:

Virulence factors help pathogenic microbes to infect host cells by virulence mechanisms – invade host, cause and spread disease, evade the defense or immune mechanism of the host. These factors makes the virus to grow, replicate, and modify the host cells due to its toxicity.  

Viruses binds to the receptor protein of the host cell.

Different types of virulent factors are: invasion factors, adhesive or adherent factors, capsules, endo and exotoxins, etc.  

The virulence factors decides the severity and rate of spread of an infection

fertilization, pictured in figure 24.23a is the process in which gametes (an egg and sperm) fuse to form a zygote. the egg and sperm each contain one set of chromosomes. to ensure that the offspring has only one complete diploid set of chromosomes, only one sperm must fuse with one egg. in mammals, the egg is protected by a layer of extracellular matrix consisting mainly of glycoproteins called the zona pellucida. when a sperm binds to the zona pellucida, a series of biochemical events, called the acrosomal reactions, take place. in placental mammals, the acrosome contains digestive enzymes that initiate the degradation of the glycoprotein matrix protecting the egg and allowing the sperm plasma membrane to fuse with the egg plasma membrane, as illustrated in figure 24.23b. the fusion of these two membranes creates an opening through which the sperm nucleus is transferred into the ovum. the nuclear membranes of the egg and sperm break down and the two haploid genomes condense to form a diploid genome.

explanation:

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