HEPATITIS C VIRUS (HCV). The orange spikes covering the surface represent the E (Envelope) Proteins. Each spike is a dimer of E1 and E2 anchored into the viral envelope (illustrated as a greenish-blue layer). This viral envelope is derived from host cell ER membrane. Below that is a purplish layer representing the core (C) proteins. In the core lies the RNA genome. It is not known whether p7 (a small protein that may hexamerise into a viroporin) is present in the virion.

Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) is a small enveloped + single stranded RNA virus. It classified in the family Flaviviridae (L. Flavus: yellow named after Yellow Fever) in the genus Hepacivirus.