Which of the Following is the Best Description of a Syncytia

Question

Which of the following is the best description of a syncytia?
A) A cellular structure that viruses us to move within a host cell.
B) A fusion of two cells causes by viral envelope glycoproteins.
C) A structure between two plant cells that viruses can use for cell to cell movement.
D) A vesicle involved in the receptor mediated endocytosis pathway.
E) A protein that is involved in the transport of proteins into the nucleus.

Accepted Answer

A syncytia is a fusion of two or more cells caused by the action of viral envelope glycoproteins. This is a common mechanism used by some viruses, such as HIV and herpes simplex virus, to spread from cell to cell and evade the immune system. The resulting structure is a multinucleated cell with multiple nuclei but no intervening cell membranes.