What is a capsid?

Q: What is a capsid?


A: A capsid is the protein shell of a virus that encloses the virus's nucleic acid.

Q: What are the subunits of a capsid called and how are they structured?


A: The subunits of a capsid are called capsomeres, and they are observable in a 3-dimensional structure.

Q: How are capsids classified?


A: Capsids are broadly classified by their structure.

Q: Can the structure of a capsid vary between different viruses?


A: Yes, some viruses, such as bacteriophages, have developed more complicated structures compared to others.

Q: What are the two general shapes of a capsid?


A: The two general shapes of a capsid are icosahedral and helical.

Q: Do the capsid faces consist of only one protein?


A: No, the capsid faces may consist of one or more proteins such as the foot-and-mouth disease virus capsid faces, which consist of three proteins called VP1-3.

Q: What is the icosahedral shape of a capsid?


A: The icosahedral shape has 20 equilateral triangular faces approximating a sphere.

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