It is done through the lytic cycle of the virus. This is the mechanism by which viruses infect a host, take over the function of the cells, and use them to replicate millions of new viruses in your body. See the related questions below about the lytic cycle.
The common cold spreads through contact with infected individuals or surfaces, leading to viral replication in the nasal passages. The immune response results in symptoms like a runny nose and sore throat. The illness typically resolves on its own in about one to two weeks.
;