Lytic Cycle

The lytic cycle is a process by which a virus infects a host cell, reproduces itself, and then destroys the host. The virus attaches to a cell and injects its genetic material, hijacking the cell's machinery to produce many new virus particles. Once these new viruses are ready, they cause the host cell to rupture or burst, releasing the new viruses to infect nearby cells. This cycle results in rapid multiplication of the virus and often causes cell damage, which can lead to symptoms like illness or infection.