During a type of penetration called , viruses are taken into the cell by engulfment in a vacuole or a vesicle.

The process you're referring to is known as "endocytosis." During endocytosis, the cell membrane engulfs external substances, forming a pocket that eventually pinches off to become a vacuole or vesicle containing the ingested material, such as viruses, nutrients, or other molecules. This mechanism allows cells to intake larger particles that cannot pass through the cell membrane via diffusion or transport proteins. There are different types of endocytosis, including phagocytosis (cell eating) and pinocytosis (cell drinking), each serving specific functions in cellular uptake processes.