NEET BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Viruses known to infect one or a limited number of species are said to be specialists; whereas those that infect a wide range of hosts, are referred to as generalists.

Detailed explanation-2: -Whereas some viruses have very restricted host ranges and might only infect a single host species, other viruses have broad host ranges and infect multiple different host species. Extremely different host ranges can sometimes even be found among closely related viruses.

Detailed explanation-3: -The host range is usually a function of an inability of the virus to successfully adsorb and/or enter cells because of an incompatibility between virus capsid proteins (or virus envelope proteins ) and the host receptor molecule.

Detailed explanation-4: -Viruses can infect only certain species of hosts and only certain cells within that host.

Detailed explanation-5: -Host range describes the breadth of organisms a parasite is capable of infecting, with limits on host range stemming from parasite, host, or environmental characteristics. Parasites can adapt to overcome host or environmental limitations, while hosts can adapt to control the negative impact of parasites.