Interferons are:

Interferons:

• An antiviral protien and is the first line of defense against viral attacks.
• Term interferon originated from the interference of this molecule on virus replication.
• Interferons are a family of host coded proteins produced by cells on induction by viral or non-viral inducers.
• Interferons by itself has no direct action on viruses but it acts on other cells of the same species, rendering them refractory to viral infection.
• These interferons are to product adjacent cells from infection and activate T-cell mediated immunity.

Explanation:

• Antiviral proteins: Proteins that are induced by human or animal cells to interfere with viral replication. These proteins are isolated to inhibit the virus from replicating in a host's cells and stop it from spreading to other cells.
• Interferons are antiviral proteins synthesized by many kinds of somatic cells in response to viral infection.