👉 Atoms, the fundamental units of matter, are composed of protons, neutrons, and electrons, bound together by the strong nuclear force. However, when an atom interacts with its environment, it can undergo a process called infection, where it absorbs or exchanges particles, particularly electrons or other subatomic particles, leading to changes in its chemical properties. This interaction can result in ionization, where electrons are stripped away, creating ions, or in the addition or removal of electrons, altering the atom's charge and reactivity. In biological contexts, this concept is crucial for understanding how viruses infect cells by hijacking the host's cellular machinery, often through the infection of specific atoms or molecules within the cell.
