Difference Between Virus and Virion
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. |
Difference between Virus and Virion
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
- Difference Between Virus and Virion
- What is a Virus?
- What is a Virion?
- Similarities Between Virus and Virion
- Conclusion: Difference between Virus and Virion