Smallpox virus (Variola virus)

Family: Poxviridae

Morphology: Virus capsid is enveloped, virions

are generally brick-shaped, or pleomorphic and

measure 250 nm in diameter; 250-300 nm in length;

200 nm in height displaying tubular units. The core

is biconcave with two lateral bodies. Nested

between the core membrane, or between the

surface membrane.

Adeno virus

Family: Adenoviridae
Structure: non-enveloped
Icosahedrons
70 – 90 nm in diameter
The capsid has 252 capsomers, 240 of which are hexons.
Capsid is surrounded by fibers
Linear dsDNA containing 33-45 kb pairs
 Rabies virus

Family: Rhabdoviridae
Structure: Bullet-shaped appearance
Helical symmetry, enveloped virus
6-7 nm spike projections are present on the envelope
Virion 130-240nm X 80nm
Negative ssRNA

Human immunodeficiency
virus

Family: Retroviridae

Structure: HIV is roughly spherical with a diameter

of about 120 nm, around 60 times smaller than a red
blood cell, It is composed of two copies of positive
single-stranded RNA that codes for the virus's
nine genes enclosed by a conical capsid composed
of 2,000 copies of the viral protein p24. The single-
stranded RNA is tightly bound to nucleocapsid
proteins, p7 and enzymes needed for the
development of the virion such as reverse
Scanning electron micrograph of HIV-1 (in
transcriptase, proteases, ribonuclease and integrase.green) budding from cultured lymphocyte.
A matrix composed of the viral protein p17Multiple round bumps on cell surface
surrounds the capsid ensuring the integrity of therepresent sites of assembly and budding
of virions.
virion particle.
 Bacteriophage (λ phage)

Family: Siphoviridae
Structure: Non-enveloped
Long non-contractile tail
Linear dsDNA

A bacteriophage is a virus that infects bacteria. Typically, bacteriophages consist of an outer

protein capsid enclosing genetic material.

Tobacco mosaic virus

Structure: Tobacco mosaic virus has a rod-like

appearance. Its capsid is made from 2130 molecules
of coat protein and one molecule of genomic RNA
6400 bases long. The coat protein self-assembles
into the rod like helical structure (16.3 proteins per
helix turn) around the RNA which forms a hairpin
loop structure. The protein monomer consists of
158 amino acids which are assembled into four
main alpha-helices, which are joined by a prominent
loop proximal to the axis of the virion. Virions are
~300 nm in length and ~18 nm in
diameter. Negatively stained electron
microphotographs show a distinct inner channel ofElectron micrograph of TMV particles
~4 nm. The RNA is located at a radius of ~6 nm andstained to enhance visibility at
is protected from the action of cellular enzymes by160,000x magnification
the coat protein. There are three RNA nucleotides
per protein monomer.