Final answer:
Viruses can infect a variety of cell types, including adipose tissue, if there are specific binding sites for the virus on the cell surface. This infection process is facilitated by viral adhesins that allow viruses to preferentially target certain cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
Yes, viruses can infect various types of cells, including adipose cells or tissue. Viruses use glycoprotein and glycolipid patterns on the cell surfaces to connect with and infect specific cells. The process is mediated by viral adhesins that define the tropism of the virus, that is their preference for targeting specific cells, tissues, or organs. For example, the spike protein hemagglutinin on Influenzavirus allows it to bind to sialic acid on host respiratory and intestinal cells, while HIV uses glycoprotein gp120 in tandem with CD4 cellular markers and a chemokine receptor interaction to invade cells of the immune system.
Adipose tissue is made up of cells called adipocytes which store fat and play roles in energy metabolism, insulation, and organ protection. While the sample size about viral infection of adipose tissue is small, the concept of viruses being able to infect any cells, including adipocytes, holds true as long as the cells have specific binding sites that viruses can attach to.
Further research and larger sample sizes could provide more specific insights into how and which viruses are able to infect adipose tissue.