AUTHOR=Quemin Emmanuelle R. J., Quax Tessa E. F. TITLE=Archaeal viruses at the cell envelope: entry and egress JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology VOLUME=6 YEAR=2015 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2015.00552 DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2015.00552 ISSN=1664-302X ABSTRACT=The cell envelope represents the main line of host defense that viruses encounter on their way from one cell to another. The cytoplasmic membrane in general is a physical barrier that needs to be crossed both upon viral entry and exit. Therefore, viruses from the three domains of life employ a wide range of strategies for perforation of the cell membrane, each adapted to the cell surface environment of their host. Here, we review recent insights on entry and egress mechanisms of viruses infecting archaea. Due to the unique nature of the archaeal cell envelope, these particular viruses exhibit novel and unexpected mechanisms to traverse the cellular membrane.