Viral proteins are proteins produced by viruses during the process of infecting a host cell. These proteins play various essential roles in the virus's lifecycle, such as helping the virus enter and replicate within host cells, evade the host's immune system, and assemble new virus particles. Understanding viral proteins is crucial for developing antiviral therapies, vaccines, and diagnostic tools to combat viral infections. Researchers study viral proteins to unravel the mechanisms by which viruses infect cells, replicate, and cause disease, as well as to identify potential targets for drug development.