Immune Response to Viral Infections

Viruses are unlike any other threat the immune system faces. They’re not cells. They’re not even technically alive. Viruses are tiny packets of genetic material that hijack host cells, turning them into viral factories. The challenge for the immune system? Destroy the invader without destroying the body.

In this section, we explore the multilayered immune response to viral infections—where timing, precision, and memory can mean the difference between illness and resilience.

Intracellular invaders: Viruses must enter host cells to replicate.