What is the structure of a virus?
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Viruses have a protein coat called a capsid that protects their genetic material . The capsid can be either enveloped or nonenveloped, depending on the presence of a lipid membrane surrounding it . The capsid structure can be either helical or icosahedral . Helical capsids are built by numerous building blocks, while icosahedral capsids have 20 sides, each composed of an equilateral triangle . The capsids are made up of repeated contacts between protein subunits, which give them stability . The viral capsid functions to protect the genetic material from physical and chemical damage . Some viruses also have an outer lipid envelope in which viral proteins are embedded . The structure of viruses is diverse, with different shapes and sizes, but they all have a capsid that plays a crucial role in protecting their genetic material .
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| The structure of a virus consists of a protein shell called the capsid, which protects the nucleic acid genome of the virus. Some viruses also have an envelope surrounding the capsid. | |
| The paper provides information on the structure of viruses. | |
| The structure of a virus consists of a genome packaged in a protein shell called a capsid. Some viruses also have a lipid bilayer envelope surrounding the capsid. | |
| The paper provides information about two types of virus structures: helical capsids and icosahedral capsids. These structures are composed of subunit proteins and protect the viral genome. |
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