Final answer:
The correct answer is option C. The most effective strategy to prevent viruses from entering cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis is to block the receptor with an antibody, which is highly targeted and impedes the virus's ability to bind and penetrate the host cell.
Step-by-step explanation:
Many viruses enter host cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis, a process where viruses use specific glycoproteins to attach to cell surface molecules known as viral receptors. This adhesion is crucial for viruses to penetrate the cell membrane and replicate within the cell. To block the entry of viruses that use this pathway, the most effective strategy would be to block the receptor with an antibody. By doing so, the antibody can prevent the virus from binding to the host cell, thereby inhibiting its ability to enter and replicate within the host cell.
Blocking the function of adaptin, clathrin, or actin filaments may affect the endocytosis process, but these approaches could also disrupt normal cellular functions and are not as targeted as using an antibody to block viral entry.
In summary, the correct option to treat viral infections by blocking viral entry into cells through receptor-mediated endocytosis is to block the receptor with an antibody.