This animation shows a single cycle of virus replication in a human cell.

Viruses can bind to receptors on the surface of a cell to infect it. Inside the cell, the viruses disassemble and replicate their genomes. The virus shown in this animation delivers its genome inside the cell nucleus to replicate. It then produces many virus particles that exit the cell.

This animation uses a simple two-dimensional schematic illustration to show virus replication. It is narrated by virus researcher Donald Ganem.