In the foreground is a cross-sectional view of the extracellular enveloped version of the mpox virion. Here it is shown binding with glycosaminoglycans (GAGs or mucopolysaccharides). These are represented as feathery projections embedded in the lipid bilayer of a human host cell. Within the human host are proteins and small molecules shown in blue green. The outer envelope of mpox binds with GAGs and later fuses with the human host membrane. The mature virion then enters the human host cell. The mature virion is studded with tubular protein structures and other viral proteins shown in red. Below this layer is the palisade layer that surrounds the nucleocapsid which encases the double stranded DNA of the mpox virus. Seen in the background are enveloped mpox virions.