Question

A virus containing only nucleic acid and a capsid is called a

• A. Primitive virus
• B. Virion
• C. Naked virus
• D. Capsovirion

Hint:

Naked (non-enveloped) viruses are generally much more stable in the environment.
They are resistant to heat, acids, and common lipid solvents (like detergents and alcohol) because they lack a fragile lipid envelope.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is C

Step 1: Understanding the Concept:
Viruses are simple infectious agents composed of genetic material enclosed in a protein shell.
Based on the presence or absence of an outer lipid membrane, viruses are categorized into two major structural groups.

Step 2: Detailed Explanation:
The basic structural unit of a virus is the nucleocapsid, which consists of the viral nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protein shell called the capsid.
- Naked Virus (C): A virus that consists solely of this nucleocapsid (nucleic acid + capsid) without any surrounding lipid membrane is called a naked virus (or non-enveloped virus).
Examples include Adenoviruses, Parvoviruses, and Picornaviruses.
- Enveloped Virus: Some viruses acquire an outer lipid bilayer membrane derived from the host cell membrane during budding.
- Virion (B) refers to the complete, fully infectious extracellular viral particle, which can be either enveloped or naked.
Therefore, a virus lacking an envelope is specifically termed a naked virus.

Step 3: Final Answer:
A virus containing only nucleic acid and a capsid is called a naked virus.