virion

American  

[vahy-ree-on, vir-ee-] / ˈvaɪ riˌɒn, ˈvɪr i- /

noun

1. the infectious form of a virus as it exists outside the host cell, consisting of a nucleic acid core, a protein coat, and, in some species, an external envelope.

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virion British  

/ ˈvaɪrɪən /

noun

1. a virus in infective form, consisting of an RNA particle within a protein covering

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virion Scientific  

/ vī′rē-ŏn′,vîr′ē- /

1. A complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell and constituting the infective form of a virus. The shell, called a capsid, protects the interior core that includes the genome and other proteins. After the virion binds to the surface of a specific host cell, its DNA or RNA is injected into the host cell and viral replication occurs with eventual spread of the infection to other host cells.

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Etymology

Origin of virion

< French virion (1959), equivalent to viri ( en ) viral ( virus, -ian ) + -on -on ¹

Example Sentences

Some of the most complex virion structures are observed in bacteriophages, viruses that infect the simplest living organisms, bacteria.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

The virion is just the dispersal mechanism, he argued.

From National Geographic • Jan. 14, 2021

Here, I’ll walk through each component of the virion and review the evidence I found for its structure, and where I had to bridge gaps with hypotheses or artistic license.

From Scientific American • Jun. 25, 2020

The viral GP is characterized by a glycosylation site modification and mutations in the mucin-like domain that could modify the outer shape of the virion.

From Nature • Jun. 23, 2015

In theory, a single virus particle — a virion — is capable of being infectious and, after replicating billions of times, killing the host.

From Washington Post