Can't we design a chemical or any other environmental condition that will actually alter/dissolve the casing.

Question

still on killing a virus. can't we alter its genetic codes in a way that will stop it from replicating or if it does, make it live in harmony with the host. what 'd happen if we dissolved its casing which helps it to entangled itself to blood cells.

Answer 1

Few viruses attack the red blood cells directly. HIV is a notable one that attacks white blood cells (Helper T cells and macrophages). Most affect other cells in the body. Many of the antiviral drugs we have today are actually targeted at preventing viruses from adhering to cells and entering them.

As for attacking the virus coating directly, we have drugs that do this as well. Synthetic antibodies adhere to the virus coats, frequently disrupt them, and allow the immune system to swallow up and degrade the virus particles. Others attack the virus casing before it has been assembled.

Altering the DNA of a virus could kill the ones you changed, but there's no means to get all of them at once. Substances strong enough to do that would indiscriminately damage the patient's DNA as well. Some viruses also have RNA genomes.

In short, evolution is working against us on a lot of these strategies. Most antiviral therapy focuses on slowing down and disrupting large amounts of virus particles to allow the immune system, which is far better at cleaning up such infections, do its work.