Stages of Viral Infection

Initiation phase:
* attachment
* penetration
* uncoating
The genetic material of the virus is introduced into the cell, often accompanied by essential viral protein cofactors.

Replication phase:
* DNA synthesis
* RNA synthesis
* protein synthesis
The genomic size, composition and organization of viruses shows tremendous diversity (look at the Baltimore classification). In a few instances it is cellular enzymes that replicate the viral genome, assisted by viral proteins e.g parvovirus. In most cases the opposite is true, viral proteins are responsible for genome replication although they utilize cellular proteins to aid this.

Release phase:
* assembly
* maturation
* exit from cell