Viruses are small infectious particles that contain genetic material inside a protein coat. They are not living and can only reproduce inside host cells by hijacking the cell's machinery. There are two main types of viruses - those containing DNA and those containing RNA. All viruses have a basic structure that includes the genetic material surrounded by a protein capsid and sometimes an outer lipid envelope. Viruses infect cells by attaching to and entering the cell, then using the cell to replicate their genome and proteins and assemble new virus particles which are released to infect other cells. The immune system helps fight viral infections through cell-mediated immunity and antibody production.