The structural form of the capsid. The type of host cell that is infected. The ability to carry out glycolysis. Attachment to a susceptible host cell. Binary fission of the incoming virus particle to produce progeny virus.
Viruses are obligate intracellular parasites.
Viruses are surrounded by a lipid bilayer called an envelope. Viruses utilize double-stranded DNA genomes at some point in their life cycle. Among the viruses, some have DNA genomes and some have RNA genomes. Viruses must attach to susceptible host cells as a first step in their reproduction. Interferon produces an antiviral state in cells.