Final answer:
Interferons are a group of proteins secreted by virally infected cells to prevent viral replication. They stimulate uninfected cells to produce compounds that interfere with the replication, perform tumor surveillance, and activate immune cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The term for a group of proteins that are secreted by virally infected cells and work to prevent viral replication is Interferons. Interferons are one class of early-acting cytokines, which are released by infected cells as a warning to nearby uninfected cells. These small proteins signal viral infection to other cells.
Interferons stimulate uninfected cells to produce compounds that interfere with viral replication. Apart from preventing viral replication, they also have other important functions such as tumor surveillance. Interferons work by signaling neighboring uninfected cells to destroy RNA and reduce protein synthesis, signaling neighboring infected cells to undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death), and activating immune cells.
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