Mumps virus protein in cultured cells

The mumps virus protein called small hydrophobic protein (turquoise) can be seen here in the endoplasmic reticulum of a cultured cell. This is a region of the cell that processes proteins. This particular protein is possibly involved in determining how effectively the virus can infect people. By looking at how it works, new and more efficient vaccines could be developed. The different cells are roughly outlined in red, which stains the internal skeleton of the cells. Biomedical Image Awards 2006.