Rotavirus

Rotavirus particle #1. The above image is 500 pixels across, the original measures 5000 pixels across.

Rotavirus particle #2. The above image is 500 pixels across, the original measures 5000 pixels across.

ROTAVIRUS is an ds RNA virus (Reoviridae) causing severe diarrhoea (gastroenteritis). It is unusual in having three concentric protein coats (or capsids) surrounding the genome. The outermost layer (VP7) is shown in purple, the middle layer (VP6) is shown in red, and the innermost layer (VP2) is a bright purple. The RNA genome is central and appears in yellow. The spikes radiating outwards (hence rota, Latin, = wheel) are shown in green (VP4). You can get a sense of these concentric layers by viewing our stereo pair of a rotavirus particle.