Viral envelope

A lipid membrane surrounding some virus particles, usually acquired from a host cell. It carries viral proteins that help the virus attach to and enter cells.

Viral entry: The process by which a virus reaches the inside of a host cell. Envelope proteins drive attachment and membrane fusion during many viruses’ entry.
Lipid bilayer: A two-layer sheet of lipid molecules that forms the basic structure of cell membranes. Viral envelopes are lipid bilayers derived from cellular membranes.
Non-enveloped virus: A virus whose particle lacks a surrounding lipid membrane. Its protein shell, rather than a fragile lipid envelope, faces the external environment.
Viral vector: A virus-derived vehicle engineered to deliver genetic material into cells. Vector designers alter envelope proteins to change which cells receive genetic material.
Antigenic variation: Changes in pathogen surface molecules that reduce recognition by existing immune responses. Changes in envelope proteins can help viruses evade antibodies and alter vaccine effectiveness.
Membrane fusion: The merging of two lipid bilayers into one continuous membrane. Enveloped viruses use fusion to release their contents across a host-cell membrane.
Phospholipid: A lipid molecule with a water-attracting head and water-repelling tails, common in biological membranes. Phospholipids form the membrane framework surrounding enveloped virus particles.
Viral capsid: The protein shell that encloses and protects a virus’s genome. The capsid is present in viruses with and without envelopes, beneath the envelope when one exists.
Pseudotyped virus: A virus particle bearing envelope proteins from a different virus than its core. Pseudotyping isolates envelope-mediated entry for experiments on infection and immunity.
Broadly neutralizing antibody: An antibody that neutralizes multiple strains or variants of a pathogen. Finding antibodies that target conserved envelope regions is a major vaccine strategy.

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