Coloured TEM of the measles virus (morbilli-virus)

This image is part of the feature World's Top Ten Killers

Credit: ALFRED PASIEKA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Caption: Measles virus. Coloured Transmission Electron Micrograph (TEM) of a measles virus from the morbillivirus group. The virus is surrounded by a lipoprotein envelope which is acquired from the host cell as the virus "buds off" from the cell surface. The envelope also contains protein factors which promote infection of further host cells. Within this envelope is seen a purple mass of the nucleocapsid; a helical structure containing it's genetic material surrounded by protein. Measles is highly infectious and mainly affects children, producing fever and rash. One attack usually gives life-long immunity. Magnification: x100,000 at 6x6cm size.

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Keywords: helical, images, magnified image, measles, measles virus, microscopic photos, morbillivirus, nucleocapsid, nucleoprotein, paramyxoviridae, subjects, tem, virion, virus

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