How Does Cleavage of the Host Cell Protein EIF-4G Give

Question

How does cleavage of the host cell protein eIF-4G give the virus a competitive advantage?
A) It releases translation factors that the virus needs.
B) It inhibits a cellular nuclease that would degrade the viral genome.
C) It prevents translation of host cell mRNAs but not viral genomes.
D) It inhibits host cell defense mechanisms.
E) It releases nucleotides to be used in viral genome replication.

Accepted Answer

Cleavage of eIF-4G prevents translation of host cell mRNAs but not viral genomes. This gives the virus a competitive advantage because the virus can continue to translate its own genes and produce viral proteins, while the host cell's protein synthesis is inhibited. This allows the virus to redirect the cellular machinery towards viral replication, increasing its chances of survival and spread.