virion

thumb|upright=1.5|Hepacivirus virion. The outer shell ([[capsid) of this virion consists of repeating simple faces, each built from three protein dimers.]]

A virion (plural, viria or virions) is an inert virus particle capable of invading a cell. Upon entering the cell, the virion disassembles and the genetic material from the virus takes control of the cell infrastructure, thus enabling the virus to replicate. The genetic material (core, either DNA or RNA, along with occasionally present virus core protein) inside the virion is usually enclosed in a protection shell, known as the capsid.