In order to infect a cell, a virus must

A. actively burrow through the cell wall or cell membrane of the host cell to reach the cell's nucleus.
B. inject its protein into the cell while the nucleic acid remains attached to the host cell surface.
C. produce a special extension of its cytoplasm when it comes into contact with the appropriate host cell.
D. have a special protein on its surface that can interact with a protein on the surface of the host cell.

Viruses infect cells by attaching to specific receptors on the host cell surface, injecting genetic material, replicating, and ultimately releasing new virions to infect other cells.

Explanation:

Viruses are obligate, intracellular parasites that must attach to specific living cells to infect and replicate. They enter the host cell by attaching to receptors on the cell surface, which is a highly specific process. Once inside, the virus injects its genetic material and takes over the host cell's machinery to replicate and assemble new virions before ultimately exiting the cell to infect other cells.

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