Section 1
Overview of Viruses
Book
Version 6
By Boundless
By Boundless
Boundless Microbiology
Microbiology
by Boundless
5 concepts
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/19064/square/figure-21-01-01ab.jpeg)
Discovery and Detection of Viruses
Viruses are infectious particles about 100 times smaller than bacteria and can only be observed by electron microscopy.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/13688/square/1000px-hexon.jpg.jpg)
Nature of the Virion
A virion is a complete viral particle consisting of RNA or DNA surrounded by a protein shell, constituting the infective form of a virus.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/13696/raw/cmvschema.jpg)
Viral Genomes
The viral genome is the complete genetic complement contained in a DNA or RNA molecule in a virus.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/13698/square/pbb-protein-icam1-image.jpeg)
Host Range
A virus' host range is the range of cell types and host species a virus is able to infect.
![Thumbnail](../../../../../../figures.boundless-cdn.com/13717/square/rotavirus-reconstruction.jpeg)
Viral Size
Most viruses range in size from 5 to 300 nanometers (nm), although some Paramyxoviruses can be up to 14,000 nm long.