viral replication

Syllable breakdown

Dictionary meaning

the biological process by which a virus reproduces inside a host cell, co-opting the cell's molecular machinery to produce copies of the viral genome and structural proteins that are assembled into new virion particles and released to infect additional cells; the replication cycle includes attachment to and entry into the host cell, uncoating of the viral genome, transcription and translation of viral genes using host ribosomes, replication of the viral genome, assembly of new virions, and release through cell lysis or budding; understanding the specific steps of viral replication for each pathogen is essential for identifying molecular targets where antiviral drugs can interrupt the infectious cycle