Final answer:
The main stages of the interaction of a virus with host cells are attachment, penetration, uncoating, replication, assembly, and release. The virus attaches to the host cell, enters the cell, replicates its genetic material and proteins, assembles new viruses, and then releases them.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main stages of the interaction of a virus with host cells are: attachment, penetration, uncoating, replication, assembly, and release. The virus first attaches to the host cell by binding to specific receptor sites on the cell membrane. It then penetrates the cell and releases its genetic material. The virus replicates its genetic material and proteins using the host cell's machinery, assembles new viruses, and finally, releases them to infect other cells.