virion

vi·ri·on  (vr-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.

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[vir(us) + -on.]

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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]

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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.

Thesaurus

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