What is "peplomer"

n. (context virology archaic English) how viruses attach to cells; spike

A peplomer is a glycoprotein spike on a viral capsid or viral envelope. These protrusions will only bind to certain receptors on the host cell: they are essential for both host specificity and viral infectivity. The term 'peplomer' is typically used to refer to a grouping of heterologous proteins on the virus surface that function together.

The tail fibers of some bacteriophages, especially the T4-like phages, are modified peplomers. Influenza virus has 2 kinds of peplomers 1 triangular spike shaped 2 "haemagglutinin" and mushroom shaped "neuraminidase"