picornavirus structure

Picornaviruses are small, non-enveloped viruses with a simple, symmetrical structure. They have a roughly 30-nanometer-sized protein shell called a capsid, made from four types of proteins, which protects their genetic material. Inside, they carry single-stranded RNA, a type of genetic blueprint that allows the virus to hijack host cells and replicate. This compact, protective design makes picornaviruses stable outside hosts and efficient at infecting cells once they encounter a suitable environment. Examples include the viruses causing common colds and foot-and-mouth disease in animals.