noun
- The structure formed by the viral genome (DNA or RNA) enclosed within a protein shell (capsid), representing the core infectious unit of a virus.
Usage: technical; virology
Examples
- The nucleocapsid of the coronavirus contains the viral RNA and structural proteins.
- Researchers studied how the nucleocapsid protects the genetic material from degradation.
- The nucleocapsid is the minimal infectious unit of many viruses.
- During viral assembly, the capsid proteins surround the genome to form the nucleocapsid.
- The nucleocapsid protein plays a crucial role in viral replication and packaging.