False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of rotaviruses. Rotaviruses belong to the genus Reovirus, and are the causative agent of infantile


False-colour transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of rotaviruses. Rotaviruses belong to the genus Reovirus, and are the causative agent of infantile gastroenteritis in humans, mice and calves. The viruses are 70-75 nanometres in diameter, and do not have the lipoprotein envelope seen in many other genera. The genome of this virus is a double-stranded RNA, fragmented into ten segments. The virus gets its name from the wheel-like appearance of the capsid (protein shell). Magnification: x89,000 at size.


Size: 3815px × 4695px
Photo credit: © EM UNIT, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHAMPTON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: gastroenteritis, reoviridae, reovirus, rotavirus, virus