Eclipse phase

Definition

The eclipse phase is a period during the viral life cycle when the virus has entered a host cell but new virions have not yet been formed. During this phase, viral components are being synthesized and assembled.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The eclipse phase begins immediately after the virus penetrates the host cell.
2. During this phase, no infectious virions are present in the host cell's cytoplasm.
3. The eclipse phase involves the disassembly of the viral particle and replication of its genome.
4. Protein synthesis for new viral particles occurs during this time.
5. It ends when newly formed virions are assembled and become detectable.

Review Questions

• What key processes occur during the eclipse phase of a viral infection?
• Why are no infectious virions detected in the cytoplasm during the eclipse phase?
• When does the eclipse phase end in the viral life cycle?

Related terms

Lytic Cycle:

A type of viral replication that results in destruction of the host cell.

Latency Period: A period where a virus remains dormant within a host without producing new virions.

Virion:

A complete, infectious form of a virus outside a host cell.