An isolated infectious pathogen is treated separately with a lipolytic enzyme that hydrolyzes phospholipids and an enzyme that selectively degrades ribose-containing nucleic acids. The pathogen retains its infectivity following lipid hydrolysis but loses infectivity after ribose nucleic acid degradation. Based on these structural properties, which of the following best classifies this pathogen?
- Non-enveloped RNA virusCevap
- BEnveloped DNA virus
- CBacterium possessing a peptidoglycan cell wall
- DEnveloped RNA virus
Cevap
Non-enveloped RNA virus
The pathogen's resistance to phospholipid hydrolysis confirms the absence of a outer lipid membrane envelope surrounding its protein capsid. Its loss of infectivity upon exposure to ribose nucleic acid degradation proves that its genetic material is RNA rather than DNA. Therefore, the pathogen is correctly identified as a non-enveloped RNA virus.
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Anahtar Kavram
Structural composition of viruses: viral envelopes and genome types
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