viral entry into host cell 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. GO:0046718 GO:0019063 virion penetration phage translocation 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. entry of virus into host cell VZ:936 virion penetration into host cell viral penetration virus entry into host cell biological_process movement in host environment