Final answer:
Endogenous pathogens, such as viruses, achieve replication by entering host cells, releasing their nucleic acid, and then using the host's cellular machinery to replicate their genome. The pathogens can cause cell damage and eventually release new progeny that can infect other cells, thus perpetuating the cycle of infection.
Step-by-step explanation:
How Endogenous Pathogens Achieve Genomic Replication Inside the Cell
When an endogenous pathogen enters a cell, it initiates the process of genomic replication to produce new copies of itself. This process may vary, depending on the type of pathogen. For instance, viruses, which are obligate intracellular parasites, attach to host cells and penetrate the cell membrane through mechanisms like endocytosis or direct fusion with the cell membrane. Once inside, the virus releases its nucleic acid, and these viral genomes are then replicated using the host's cellular machinery.
Viral replication
The invading viral nucleic acid commandeers the host cell's replication mechanisms. In cases where the virus contains single-stranded DNA (ssDNA), the host enzymes synthesize a complementary strand, creating double-stranded DNA (dsDNA). This dsDNA is then replicated, transcribed, and translated similarly to the host's native DNA. Bacterial pathogens may also infect host cells and subvert the immune system using similar strategies to replicate within phagocytic cells.
During replication, the pathogen can cause cell damage through cytopathic effects. Ultimately, progeny of the pathogens are assembled and may exit the host cell via lysis or budding, subsequently infecting adjacent cells and continuing the replication cycle.