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Viral Infections and Immunity
| Viral Event | Obstacles | Time Course |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission | Mechanical and chemical barriers | 0 |
| Infection and replication | Innate immunity | 0 → |
| Infection stopped or spreads | Viral antigens transported to lymphoid tissues | Within 24 hours |
| Infection controlled | Specific antibodies and cell-mediated immunity | 4–10 days |
| Sterile immunity | Immune memory | 14 days to years |
| Viral persistence if infection not controlled | Immune disruption or evasion | Weeks to years |
