Attachment and Entry

To tune of "Girl With One Eye" by Florence + The Machine
Completely different viruses can bind
The same receptor to get inside
Viruses in the same family
Can use completely different receptors
To infiltrate cells
Viruses can use multiple
Receptors to get into host cells
Or they can require as well
Binding to a co-receptor
To infiltrate cells
All proteins on the cell surface
Have a function in cellular homeostasis
They're not there for viruses
The ability to bind is an adaptation
Non-enveloped viruses can attach
By binding at a five-fold axis
Or by host receptors fitting into grooves
On the viral capsid
To infiltrate cells
To release their genome
Enveloped viruses must undergo
Fusion with the host cell
At the plasma membrane or in the endosome
All proteins on the cell surface
Have a function in cellular homeostasis
All proteins on the cell surface
Have a function in cellular homeostasis
All proteins on the cell surface
Have a function in cellular homeostasis
They're not there for viruses
The ability to bind is an adaptation