Journal of General Virology

Fig. 8. (a) A herpesvirus particle adsorbed onto freshly cleaved mica. The virus is still enveloped and rough indications of substructure on the surface of the capsid are detected by the AFM probe through the lipid membrane. (b) A herpesvirus virion treated with detergent to reveal the underlying polygonal capsid. The virion is damaged and flattened somewhat on the substrate, yielding a good surface for AFM imaging. Capsomeres are clearly evident, as are axes of pentagonal and hexagonal symmetry. Depressions at the centres of some capsomeres are also visible in some cases.

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