Final answer:
Enveloped viruses can enter human host cells either via receptor-mediated endocytosis or membrane fusion, with the latter involving fusion proteins to merge the viral envelope with the cell membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
Two ways an enveloped virus can enter a human host cell are through receptor-mediated endocytosis and fusion. In receptor-mediated endocytosis, enveloped viruses bind to cell receptors and are then taken into the cell encased in a vesicle, similar to the process that some non-enveloped viruses use. The second method, fusion, is exclusive to enveloped viruses; they utilize specialized fusion proteins embedded in their envelopes to merge directly with the host cell's plasma membrane, releasing the viral nucleic acids and protein contents into the host's cytoplasm. Viruses like HIV employ this fusion mechanism for cell entry, which is critical for the viral replication process.
Enveloped viruses can enter a human host cell in two ways: receptor-mediated endocytosis and fusion.
In receptor-mediated endocytosis, the virus binds to a specific receptor on the cell surface, and the cell membrane engulfs the virus, forming a vesicle.
In fusion, the virus uses special fusion proteins in its envelope to fuse with the plasma membrane of the cell, allowing the virus to release its genetic material into the cell cytoplasm.