viral entry into host cell GO:0019063 GO:0046718 The process that occurs after viral attachment by which a virus, or viral nucleic acid, breaches the plasma membrane or cell envelope and enters the host cell. The process ends when the viral nucleic acid is released into the host cell cytoplasm. VZ:936 Viral attachment to the host cell is not part of viral entry in GO because virus attachment does not always lead to viral entry: attachment can also result in the virion being carried by the host cell to another location. biological_process entry of virus into host cell phage translocation viral penetration virion penetration virion penetration into host cell virus entry into host cell