Viral Toxins

Almost all pathogens that cause infections and diseases in mammals, including but not limited to viruses, utilize the process of endocytosis to enter the host cells. Through the study of this and related topics, scientists have revealed particular ways to interfere with the process and prevent the virus from entering the host cell. Virus entry through endocytosis is a complex process, and viruses utilize cellular and viral encoded factors to reach the targeted body. The process depends on events that occur on different scales regarding length and time. This section discusses the endocytotic mechanisms viruses utilize to cause havoc in human or animal bodies.