If You Add Togavirus Virions to Host Cells and Then

Question

If you add togavirus virions to host cells and then lower the pH of the medium, what will happen?
A) The virions will become inactivated.
B) The virus will bind more tightly to the host cell receptor.
C) The virions will fuse to the plasma membrane of the cell.
D) The virus will be released from the host cell receptor.
E) The virions will be taken up by receptor mediated endocytosis.

Accepted Answer

Togaviruses are enveloped viruses and their fusion to the plasma membrane of the host cell is triggered by a drop in pH. This allows the virus to enter the host cell and initiate viral replication.