Viral entry into epithelial cell

Viral entry into epithelial cell" refers to the general process by which viruses penetrate and infect epithelial cells, typically beginning with the viral attachment to cell-surface receptors, followed by internalization via endocytosis or direct membrane fusion, and finally transfer of the viral genome into the host cell cytosol or nucleus[2][3][4]. This process varies by virus type and may involve specific host receptors (such as ICAM-1 for rhinoviruses, CAR for coxsackievirus, ACE2 for coronaviruses, etc.), signaling cascades, and cellular trafficking pathways[1][4]. Because the molecular details differ by virus, the term does not designate a unique, universal molecular target but rather a set of pathways and cellular factors that can individually be therapeutic targets in antiviral strategies[2][3][4]. If you are seeking a specific host cell receptor involved in viral entry (e.g., ACE2, CAR, CD155, nectin, etc.), you should use the name of that receptor. Drugs or antibodies that block viral entry typically target a specific viral surface protein or the cellular receptor used by the virus—not the general process itself[3][4]. Treating "viral entry into epithelial cell" as a drug target would be non-standard and non-specific for pharmacological or bioinformatic purposes.