About interferon true is:: (A) It is a synthetic antiviral agent, (B) Inhibits viral replication in cells, (C) Is specific for a particular virus, (D) None
Answer is B. Ans. is 'b' i.e., Inhibits viral replication in cells(Ref: Ananthanarayan, 9th/e, p. 448 - 449 and 8th/e, p. 447 - 448)* Interferon by itself has no direct action on viruses but it acts on other cells of same species, rendering them refractory to viral infection.* On exposure to interferon, cells produce a protein (translation inhibiting protein TIP) which selectively inhibits translation of mRNA.