A dilemma for viruses and giant viruses: which endocytic pathway to use to enter cells?

Viruses must enter host cells to deliver their genetic material and accessory proteins. Endocytosis offers to viruses the opportunity to enter host cells. However, endocytosis is a complex phenomenon that includes different mechanisms, clathrin-mediated endocytosis, caveolin-mediated endocytosis, macropinocytosis, and phagocytosis. Here, I describe the ways used by different viruses to exploit these endocytic pathways.