Morphology

MORPHOLOGY
  • Envelope: The virions are enveloped (hence ether sensitive), slightly pleomorphic, spherical and measure approximately 120-200 nm in diameter.
  • Spikes: The surface projections (spikes) over the envelope are dispersed evenly all over the surface.
  • Symmetry: The virus has icosahedral symmetry.
  • Tegument: The tegument is a protein filled region between envelope and capsid.
    • Capsid: The surface of the capsid has 162 capsomers per nucleocapsid. The nucleocapsids are sometimes penetrated by stain (although intact envelope impermeable to stain).
  • Genome: The core consists of a fibrillar spool on which the DNA is wrapped. The ends of the fibers are anchored to the underside of the capsid shell. The virions contain one molecule of linear double stranded DNA with genome length of 120000-220000 nt. The genome is consists of unique long (UL), unique short (US) and terminal repeat regions.
Last modified: Friday, 1 October 2010, 8:44 AM