A virologist tests an antiviral drug on a culture of 2,500 infected cells. Without the drug, the virus replicates 3 times per cell. With the drug, replication is reduced by 70%. If the drug reaches 80% of the cells, how many total replications occur across all cells?

Tue, 05 May 2026 22:13:32 +0000

**Why Antiviral Research Matters—And How a Recent Experiment Reshapes Outcomes** As viral diseases continue to shape public health debates in the U.S., breakthroughs in laboratory-based antiviral testing are gaining quiet traction. At the center of this scientific momentum is a recent study where a virologist examined the effect of a new antiviral drug on a controlled culture of 2,500 infected cells. This research isn’t just a technical exercise—it reflects growing interest in accelerating treatments that limit viral spread at the cellular level. With replication cycles central to infection dynamics, understanding how a drug cuts replication by 70% offers insight into tools that could transform disease management. With the drug in effect, viral replication per infected cell drops significantly: from 3 replication cycles per cell to just 0.6. This drop matters when scaled across thousands of cells. The experiment reveals a measurable shift in overall viral activity, offering a data-driven glimpse into therapeutic potential. ### How the Experiment Measures Viral Replication at Scale