How Does Viral Morphology Influence Pathogenicity?
The morphology of a virus can significantly impact its pathogenicity, or ability to cause disease. For example:
Enveloped Viruses: These viruses can evade the host immune system more effectively due to their lipid envelope, which can fuse with host cell membranes. However, they are also more sensitive to environmental conditions like detergents and heat. Non-enveloped Viruses: These viruses are more resistant to environmental stresses but may rely on other mechanisms, such as receptor-mediated endocytosis, to enter host cells.
