vi·ri·on (v  r - n , vîr-)n. A complete viral particle, consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell and constituting the infective form of a virus. |
virion [ˈvaɪrɪən]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biochemistry) a virus in infective form, consisting of an RNA particle within a protein covering
[from vir(us) + ion]
| virion (vr-n, vîr-) 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. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | virion - (virology) a complete viral particle; nucleic acid and capsid (and a lipid envelope in some viruses) virus - (virology) ultramicroscopic infectious agent that replicates itself only within cells of living hosts; many are pathogenic; a piece of nucleic acid (DNA or RNA) wrapped in a thin coat of protein capsid - the outer covering of protein surrounding the nucleic acid of a virus subatomic particle, particle - a body having finite mass and internal structure but negligible dimensions |
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