 |
VOOZH | about |
|
VOOZH | about |
The difference between virus and virion is that virus is the nucleoprotein particle whereas virion is the active, infectious form of the virus. A virus consists of genetic material encased by a protein capsid. It does not show any metabolic activity. Virion is the vector stage of a virus, which permits the transmission of a virus from one infected host cell to another.
Therefore, the virus is the intracellular phase whereas virion is the extracellular phase of the virus. Both virus and virion are two kinds of microscopic, obligatory parasites that are infectious. In this article, we will study the difference between a virus and a virion, what a virus is, the characteristics of a virus, what a virion is, and the similarities between a virus and virion.
Table of Content
The table below highlights the differences between virus and virion:
Features | Virus | Virion |
|---|---|---|
Definition | Virus is a small parasite that consists of a nucleic acid molecule covered by a protein coat. | Virion is the complete, infective form of a virus outside the host cell. They consist of both nucleic acid and protein layers. |
Significance | Virus is a nucleoprotein particle and a non-cellular entity. | Virion is the infectious form of a virus. |
Intracellular/Extracellular | Virus is the intracellular parasite. | Virion is the extracellular parasite. |
Size | Virus is comparatively larger than a virion. | Virion is smaller than the virus. |
Shape | The shapes of a virus are helical, icosahedral, prolate, envelope, and complex. | Most virions are spheroidal or rod-shaped. |
A virus is a minute, non-cellular structure comprising of a nucleic acid molecule covered by a protein coat. It is an intracellular parasite. It has the ability to proliferate and invade the living cells of plants, animals, and other microorganisms; however, it can only replicate itself within a particular host cell. A virus particle typically consists of a single-stranded or double-stranded, DNA or RNA genome, covered by a protein coat called capsid. Viruses have various sizes spanning from 10–400 nm in diameter.
They are considered to be non-living entities when outside the host cell as they do not show any metabolic activity. As such, they belong to a unique category that cannot be distinctly classified as either living or non-living. A virus is comparatively larger than a virion and may have different shapes. It can be helical, prolate, envelope, complex or icosahedral among others.
Following are a few characteristic of viruses:
Also Read: Virus in Biology
A virion is not the same as a virus but it is a virus in its extracellular phase. It is the complete, active, infectious form of a virus that exists outside the host cell. It is an extracellular parasite. It is composed of either a DNA or RNA genome, and is encased in an outer protein shell termed as capsid. It also contains an additional outer membrane made up of lipids called the envelope.
Virion is relatively smaller than the virus and is typically spheroidal in shape. The majority of plant viruses have rod-shaped virions. Virions perform the function of securely transporting the virus from the original host to a new host. Additionally, they also protect the genetic material from external threats.
Following are the similarities between virus and virion:
A virus is a broader term that encompasses the entire infectious agent, including its various stages of the life cycle (inside and outside the host cell). On the other hand, a virion specifically refers to the extracellular, infectious form of a virus, which is the particle responsible for initiating new infections.
Also Read,
