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

The virion is just the dispersal mechanism, he argued.

From National Geographic • Jan. 14, 2021

I found a research paper from 1980 that reported measurements of 4–4.8 RNA bases per nm, or about 3,000 to 3,750 nm for the half of the genome modeled into the virion cross section.

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

An interesting feature of viral complexity is that the complexity of the host does not correlate to the complexity of the virion.

From Textbooks • Apr. 25, 2013

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