Fig. 2. Prepared detergent-treated herpes simplex virus type-1 (HSV-1) capsids. Samples were characterized structurally by electron microscopy (EM) (A) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) (B-D). EM analysis of negatively stained capsid preparations shows that treatment of HSV-1 virions with 0.2% Triton X-100 renders capsids (which are 125 nm in diameter) free of envelopes. AFM analysis of capsid preparations adsorbed onto a poly-L-lysine-coated surface reveals spherical particles (B) with a height distribution exhibiting a sharp maximum between 120 and 130 nm (C,D) (n=200).