Final answer:
Non-enveloped viruses attach to host cells using protein spikes that correspond with specific receptors, entering either by endocytosis or through channels formed in the cell membrane.
Step-by-step explanation:
Non-enveloped viruses bind to the host cell by attaching to specific receptor sites on the cell membrane, typically through protein spikes protruding from their capsids or via glycoprotein interaction. After binding, these viruses may enter cells either through receptor-mediated endocytosis, where the virus is taken inside the cell within a vesicle, or the viral capsid proteins may cause changes that create channels in the host cell membrane, allowing the viral genome to be injected into the host cell.
The binding occurs when these spikes or glycoproteins interact with specific receptor sites on the host cell membrane, similar to keys fitting into locks.