GO:0039666 / Biological Process

GO:0039666

virion attachment to host cell pilus

The process by which a virion attaches to a host cell by binding to a pilus on the host cell surface. Pili are retractile filaments that protrude from gram-negative bacteria. Filamentous viruses can attach to the pilus tip, whereas icosahedral viruses can attach to the pilus side.