Question

What are the types of viral entries into cells?

Answer 1

Viruses:

1. Viruses are the smallest particles that can cause diseases.
2. Viruses consist of genetic components like RNA, DNA, and protein.
3. Viruses can enter the cells in many ways.
4. There are three types of viral entries into cells: Membrane fusion, Viral adsorption or attachment, and Entry through the formation of the pore.

Membrane fusion:

1. First, the cell membrane is pierced by the virus.
2. Then the virus binds with an unfolding viral envelope.

Viral adsorption or attachment:

1. The viral receptors attach to complementary receptors on the cell membrane.
2. In this type, interaction takes place at an initial stage between surface-specific components which are virus attachment protein VAP, and cellular proteins.
3. This protein helps in docking the virus to the plasma membrane.

Entry through the formation of pore:

1. The viral particles like the head protein, DNA or RNA enter the cell through the pore.
2. The capsid of the virus will get disassembled and releases pore-forming proteins and create pore either at plasma or endosomal membrane to inject their genetic material.