Final answer:
Interferons and cytotoxic T cells are proteins that interfere with viral replication and help in viral disease control. Vaccines contribute by teaching the immune system to recognize and destroy viruses, while antibodies can directly block viral entry into cells.
Step-by-step explanation:
The protein that interferes with the ability of viruses to cause disease is known as interferon. In response to interferons, uninfected cells change their gene expression to increase resistance to infection. This results in a reduction of cellular protein synthesis, making it difficult for a virally infected cell to produce more viruses. Furthermore, cytotoxic T cells play a pivotal role in controlling viral infections by killing infected cells before the viruses can replicate.
Vaccines also contribute to viral disease prevention by inducing immunity through exposure to non-pathogenic forms of the virus or specific viral proteins, like the spike protein targeted by antibodies in COVID-19 vaccines.
Antibodies bind to viruses and block their entry into cells, preventing infection. These antibodies can sometimes be produced in response to vaccines, which are crucial in controlling the spread of viruses, and in some cases, can lead to the eradication of the disease, as seen with smallpox.