VIRION.NET
WEST NILE VIRUS GRAPHICS

West Nile Virus (WNV) is a small (approx. 50 nm diameter) enveloped + single-stranded RNA virus. It belongs to the family Flaviviridae (L. Flavus: yellow) named after Yellow Fever. It's a significant mosquito-borne virus (arbovirus). Related to ZIKA and Japanese Encephalitis Virus.

The club-like objects covering the surface are the E (Envelope) Proteins. In the mature virion, these are dimers with the two molecules head to tail in a "Yin-Yang" or "69" position. E proteins vary from type to type, as does the state of their glycosylation. Beneath the E-Proteins is a membrane derived from the host cell. The E proteins are anchored into the membrane by membrane-spanning regions. M (Membrane) Proteins are also anchored in the membrane. Beneath the membrane is the icosahedral nucleocapsid containing the genome. Electron micrographs of West Nile Viruses show a clearly faceted virion.