Smallpox: An Historical Outbreak

Here are some smallpox virus particles (virions) rotating. You might discern the outer lipid membrane (beneath the ruffled surface proteins), the lateral bodies, and the biconcave core. The core is coated in a palisade layer (shown in red), including some pores or channels. Below the palisade layer is another lipid membrane, and below that, the viral DNA.

I went to Birmingham University, which is why I so clearly remember the outbreak at the medical school, back in 1978. I even discussed it with my tutor at the time...