Viruses kill human cells by producing protein toxins.
True
False
The correct answer and explanation is:
Answer: False
Viruses do not kill human cells by producing protein toxins. Instead, viruses kill or damage cells through their replication process. When a virus infects a host cell, it hijacks the cell’s machinery to reproduce itself. This process often results in cell death due to the disruption of normal cellular functions.
Viruses are not equipped to produce toxins in the same way bacteria do. Bacteria can produce various types of toxins, like endotoxins or exotoxins, which directly harm cells and tissues. In contrast, viruses rely on the cellular machinery of their host to replicate. As the virus reproduces, the host cell’s resources are exhausted, and the cell becomes damaged or undergoes apoptosis, a form of programmed cell death. Additionally, viral replication often leads to the bursting or lysis of the host cell, releasing new viral particles that can go on to infect other cells.
The symptoms caused by viral infections—such as fever, fatigue, and muscle aches—are primarily due to the immune response triggered by the infection. The body’s immune system recognizes and attacks infected cells, leading to inflammation and other responses. This immune activity is typically responsible for the symptoms of a viral illness, rather than toxins produced by the virus itself.
Some viruses, like the human papillomavirus (HPV), can also cause cells to undergo abnormal changes, which may lead to cancer. However, this is still not a process driven by toxin production, but rather by genetic changes within the host cell induced by the virus.
In summary, viruses do not kill cells by producing protein toxins; rather, they exploit host cells to reproduce, often leading to cell death as a result of this process.