Attachment and Entry

Attachment and Entry

To tune of “Girl With One Eye” by Florence + The Machine

[Verse 1]
Completely different viruses can bind
The same receptor to get inside
Viruses in the same family
Can use completely different receptors
To infiltrate cells

[Verse 2]
Viruses can use multiple
Receptors to get into host cells
Or they can require as well
Binding to a co-receptor
To infiltrate cells

[Chorus]
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

[Verse 3]
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

[Chorus]
To release their genome
Enveloped viruses must undergo
Fusion with the host cell
At the plasma membrane or in the endosome

[Outro]
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