How does the lytic cycle of a virus operate?

The lytic cycle of a virus is characterized by the process in which the virus infects a host cell and then uses the host's cellular machinery to produce copies of itself. During this cycle, the virus attaches to the host cell and injects its genetic material. The host cell's machinery is then hijacked to synthesize viral proteins and replicate the viral genome. Eventually, this accumulation of viral particles leads to the lysis, or bursting, of the host cell. This release of new virions can then go on to infect additional cells, continuing the cycle of infection.

This is distinct from other mechanisms viruses might employ, such as those involving a dormant or lysogenic phase, where the virus integrates into the host DNA without immediately producing new virions, or situations where replication occurs independently of host cells, which does not typically apply to lytic viruses. The lytic cycle is a direct and often aggressive means of viral replication, culminating in the destruction of the host cell.