Fundamentals of Microbiology

1.5.2.5 Multiplication of viruses

Viruses invade a host cell and direct the host’s metabolic machinery to produce viral enzymes and components.

Multiplication cycle of viruses can be divided into five distinct stages, namely: Attachment, Penetration, Biosynthesis, Maturation and Release.

Phages can multiply by two mechanisms: the lytic cycle or the lysogenic cycle. Lytic cycle results with the lysis and death of the host cell, whereas the host cell remains alive in the lysogenic cycle.