Viruses are the smallest infectious agents and can infect all forms of life. They are obligate intracellular parasites that contain either RNA or DNA. Many important human viruses are described including influenza, measles, hepatitis B, and HIV. Viruses have a protein coat that protects their genetic material and use host cells to replicate. Host responses to viral infection include innate immune defenses and adaptive immune responses like antibodies and T cells. Acute viral infections are generally mild and short-lived while some viruses can establish persistent infections by becoming latent or causing chronic or latent infections.