Hepatitis C viruses. Coloured transmission electron micrograph (TEM) of hepatitis C virus particles (orange) infecting cultured liver cells (brown). The virus consists of a core of RNA (ribonucleic acid) enclosed in a capsid (orange), and surrounding by a glycoprotein envelope (green). It infects liver cells causing an inflammatory disease that can lead to degeneration and scarring (cirrhosis). It is transmitted by bloodtoblood contact. There is no vaccine for hepatitis C. Magnification: x30,000 when printed at 10 centimetres tall.