Can Viruses Exploit the Cell Membrane to Enter Cells?

💡 The Answer

• Enveloped viruses fuse their lipid envelope with the host cell membrane to release genetic material.
• Non‑enveloped viruses often trigger endocytosis, entering via membrane invagination.
• Viral spike proteins bind to specific membrane receptors, initiating the entry process.
• This reliance on membrane dynamics makes entry a key target for antiviral drugs.