Epithelial cell viral entry

Epithelial cell viral entry" refers to the process by which viruses penetrate epithelial barriers—such as those in the respiratory, gastrointestinal, or urogenital tracts—chiefly through interaction with specific host cell receptors, attachment factors, or coreceptors on the surface of epithelial cells[1][2][3][4]. The entry process may involve direct fusion with the plasma membrane or endocytosis via specialized routes, frequently requiring viral envelope proteins to bind and activate cell surface molecules, such as proteins (e.g., ACE2 for coronaviruses, ICAM-1 for rhinoviruses, CD55 for coxsackievirus), carbohydrates, or lipids[2][3][4][6][7]. The specific molecular mechanisms and receptors differ substantially among viruses, and the epithelial entry process is a critical determinant of cellular tropism, infectivity, and disease propagation[1][2][3][4][6][7]. This process is exploited by antiviral therapeutics and vaccines that target key viral proteins or host cell entry factors, but "epithelial cell viral entry" itself is not a single, actionable molecular target.

Other names

Viral entry into epithelial cellsVirus-epithelium translocationEpithelial viral penetration