How do viruses exploit cell signaling pathways?

How do viruses exploit cell signaling pathways?

• A. By enhancing immune responses
• B. By promoting apoptosis of host cells
• C. By hijacking pathways to facilitate replication
• D. By reducing the cell's metabolic activity

Answer: (C)

Viruses exploit cell signaling pathways primarily by hijacking them to facilitate their replication. When a virus enters a host cell, it can manipulate the cell's signaling networks to promote an environment that is favorable for its own proliferation. This involves altering various signaling pathways that control cell growth, division, and survival. For example, viruses may activate signaling cascades that lead to the expression of viral genes or the replication of the viral genome. By doing so, they can effectively redirect the host's cellular machinery to produce viral components instead of normal cellular functions. This hijacking often results in the shutdown of host defenses, allowing the virus to evade the immune response and persist in the host. The other options do not accurately represent how viruses interact with cell signaling pathways. While some may lead to immune responses or apoptosis, these mechanisms are typically not exploited by the virus for replication. Instead, viruses are more focused on manipulating the host cell's machinery for their own benefit.

Viruses exploit cell signaling pathways primarily by hijacking them to facilitate their replication. When a virus enters a host cell, it can manipulate the cell's signaling networks to promote an environment that is favorable for its own proliferation. This involves altering various signaling pathways that control cell growth, division, and survival.

For example, viruses may activate signaling cascades that lead to the expression of viral genes or the replication of the viral genome. By doing so, they can effectively redirect the host's cellular machinery to produce viral components instead of normal cellular functions. This hijacking often results in the shutdown of host defenses, allowing the virus to evade the immune response and persist in the host.

The other options do not accurately represent how viruses interact with cell signaling pathways. While some may lead to immune responses or apoptosis, these mechanisms are typically not exploited by the virus for replication. Instead, viruses are more focused on manipulating the host cell's machinery for their own benefit.