page_title: Peplomer
hierarchical_section_title: Peplomer
caption_attribution_description: 3D print of a spike protein on the surface of SARS-CoV-2—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19. Spike proteins cover the surface of SARS-CoV-2 and enable the virus to enter and infect human cells. For more information, visit the NIH 3D Print Exchange at 3dprint.nih.gov. Credit: NIH
context_page_description: A peplomer is a glycoprotein spike on a viral capsid or viral envelope. These protrusions bind only to certain receptors on the host cell. They are essential for both host specificity and viral infectivity.
  The tail fibers of some bacteriophages, especially the T4-like phages, are modified peplomers.
  Influenza virus has two kinds of peplomers:
  Triangular, spike-shaped "haemagglutinin"
  Mushroom-shaped "neuraminidase".
context_section_description: A peplomer is a glycoprotein spike on a viral capsid or viral envelope. These protrusions bind only to certain receptors on the host cell. They are essential for both host specificity and viral infectivity. 
  The tail fibers of some bacteriophages, especially the T4-like phages, are modified peplomers.
  Influenza virus has two kinds of peplomers: 
  Triangular, spike-shaped "haemagglutinin"
  Mushroom-shaped "neuraminidase".
caption: 3D print of the peplomers of SARS-CoV-2
exif: {"Image Make": "Apple", "Image Model": "iPhone 11 Pro Max", "Image Orientation": "Horizontal (normal)", "Image XResolution": "72", "Image YResolution": "72", "Image ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Image Software": "13.3.1", "Image DateTime": "2020:02:18 13:56:42", "Image YCbCrPositioning": "Centered", "Image ExifOffset": "214", "GPS GPSLatitudeRef": "N", "GPS GPSLatitude": "[39, 0, 342/25]", "GPS GPSLongitudeRef": "W", "GPS GPSLongitude": "[77, 6, 513/100]", "GPS GPSAltitudeRef": "0", "GPS GPSAltitude": "467783/4798", "GPS GPSSpeedRef": "K", "GPS GPSSpeed": "0", "GPS GPSImgDirectionRef": "T", "GPS GPSImgDirection": "303903/4096", "GPS GPSDestBearingRef": "T", "GPS GPSDestBearing": "303903/4096", "GPS Tag 0x001F": "65", "Image GPSInfo": "2058", "Thumbnail Compression": "JPEG (old-style)", "Thumbnail XResolution": "72", "Thumbnail YResolution": "72", "Thumbnail ResolutionUnit": "Pixels/Inch", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormat": "2402", "Thumbnail JPEGInterchangeFormatLength": "5926", "EXIF ExposureTime": "1/120", "EXIF FNumber": "2", "EXIF ExposureProgram": "Program Normal", "EXIF ISOSpeedRatings": "50", "EXIF ExifVersion": "0221", "EXIF DateTimeOriginal": "2020:02:18 13:56:42", "EXIF DateTimeDigitized": "2020:02:18 13:56:42", "EXIF OffsetTime": "-05:00", "EXIF OffsetTimeOriginal": "-05:00", "EXIF OffsetTimeDigitized": "-05:00", "EXIF ComponentsConfiguration": "YCbCr", "EXIF ShutterSpeedValue": "77613/11233", "EXIF ApertureValue": "2", "EXIF BrightnessValue": "115383/20330", "EXIF ExposureBiasValue": "0", "EXIF MeteringMode": "Pattern", "EXIF Flash": "Flash did not fire, auto mode", "EXIF FocalLength": "6", "EXIF SubjectArea": "[2009, 1502, 2108, 1264]", "EXIF SubSecTimeOriginal": "589", "EXIF SubSecTimeDigitized": "589", "EXIF FlashPixVersion": "0100", "EXIF ColorSpace": "Uncalibrated", "EXIF ExifImageWidth": "4032", "EXIF ExifImageLength": "3024", "EXIF SensingMethod": "One-chip color area", "EXIF SceneType": "Directly Photographed", "EXIF CustomRendered": "7", "EXIF ExposureMode": "Auto Exposure", "EXIF WhiteBalance": "Auto", "EXIF FocalLengthIn35mmFilm": "52", "EXIF SceneCaptureType": "Standard", "EXIF LensSpecification": "[17/4, 6, 9/5, 2]", "EXIF LensMake": "Apple", "EXIF LensModel": "iPhone 11 Pro Max back dual camera 6mm f/2", "EXIF Tag 0xA460": "2"}