Varicella zoster virus (VZV) particles, illustration. VZV is a member of the Herpes virus family and causes chickenpox and shingles in humans. Each particle (virion) consists of a deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA, yellow) core surrounded by an icosahedral capsid (white). Outside of this is a proteinaceous layer known as the tegument (orange) and then a lipoprotein envelope (purple) containing glycoproteins (spikes).