- Lytic infection is the method used by the majority of viruses to reproduce. A virus penetrates the host cell during lytic infection, replicates, and causes the cell to lyse or explode.
Overview of the lytic cycle:
- Attachment: Virus binds to host cell during attachment.
- Entry: Injection of genetic material into the host cell.
- Replication: The virus takes control of the host cell’s metabolism, leading the organelles to produce new proteins and nucleic acids.
- Assembly: Nucleic acids and proteins are put together to form new viruses during assembly.
- Release: Viral enzymes induce the host cell to burst, releasing viruses into the surrounding environment. These novel viruses are capable of infecting other cells.
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