Question

From where does an enveloped virus derive its outer envelope?

1) Host cell membrane
2) Nuclear membrane
3) Mitochondrial membrane
4) Endoplasmic reticulum membrane

Answer 1

An enveloped virus's outer envelope is acquired from the host cell's plasma membrane, incorporating host cell phospholipids and proteins as well as viral proteins.

Step-by-step explanation:

An enveloped virus acquires its outer envelope from the host cell membrane during the viral replication cycle. This envelope is composed of a lipid bilayer that is similar to the host cell's own membranes, and can be derived from the outer cell membrane, the nuclear membrane, or the endoplasmic reticulum. The envelope includes host cell phospholipids and proteins, as well as proteins coded by the viral genome. Specifically, the virus utilizes machinery such as the plasma membrane of the cell during a process called budding, where the virus acquires its envelope as it exits the cell.