A virus's ability to infect an animal cell depends primarily upon the
A) host cell's ability to phagocytize viral particles.
B) type of viral nucleic acid.
C) enzymatic activity of a host cell.
D) presence of receptor sites on the cell membrane.
E) presence of pili on the host cell wall.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The ability of a virus to infect an animal cell is primarily determined by the presence of specific receptor sites on the cell membrane. The virus must be able to attach to these receptors in order to enter the cell and replicate. Therefore, the presence or absence of receptor sites is critical in determining whether a virus can infect a particular type of cell.

A Virus's Ability to Infect an Animal Cell Depends Primarily