What is the viral envelope composed of?

What is the viral envelope composed of?

• A. A phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins
• B. A rigid cell wall made of peptidoglycan
• C. Nucleic acids only
• D. Ribosomes and cytosol

Answer: (A)

Viral envelopes are lipid membranes that surround some viruses. They consist of a phospholipid bilayer derived from the host cell membrane, with viral glycoproteins embedded in it. This combination—lipid bilayer plus proteins—defines the envelope and enables the virus to attach to and fuse with host cells. It isn’t a rigid cell wall, isn’t made of nucleic acids alone, and isn’t composed of ribosomes and cytosol, so the description as a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins best fits.

Viral envelopes are lipid membranes that surround some viruses. They consist of a phospholipid bilayer derived from the host cell membrane, with viral glycoproteins embedded in it. This combination—lipid bilayer plus proteins—defines the envelope and enables the virus to attach to and fuse with host cells. It isn’t a rigid cell wall, isn’t made of nucleic acids alone, and isn’t composed of ribosomes and cytosol, so the description as a phospholipid bilayer with embedded proteins best fits.