Question

Describe how viruses and prions can alter cell functions

Answer 1

Answer & explanation:

Viruses are basically composed of nucleic acids (RNA, DNA, or both) while prions have no genetic charge, and are basically protein molecules with infecting properties.

Viruses are obligate parasites, in other words, they can only survive by infecting and controlling the cell self-reproducing machinery of the host cell. Viruses that infect prokaryotes (belonging to the bacteria and archaea kingdoms) are called bacteriophages.

In many cases, viruses modify the metabolism of the parasitized cell, which can cause its degeneration and death.

Prion infections, in turn, can be caused by eating contaminated meat, applying hormones or using contaminated surgical instruments.

Prions are able to alter the shape of other healthy proteins, causing prionic behavior in them, and can cause diseases such as spongiform encephalopathy, which gives the brain a spongy appearance.

In addition, prions are resistant to digestive enzymes, heat and even ultraviolet radiation, factors that often degrade proteins and nucleic acids.

Answer 2

Viruses and prions can alter cell function because

the prions and viruses have the ability to reproduce.

After they enter a cell they alter something about protein formation.
Prions are being composed of proteins material which folds multiple structurally abstract ways and they have the ability to induce abnormal folding of certain normal proteins which are cellular and they are abundantly found in the brain.
The virus is an infectious agent which replicates only inside living cells. Viruses can infect different types of life forms from plants and animals to microorganisms which include archaea and bacteria.