Initiation of fusion and disassembly of Sendai virus membranes into liposomes.

Sendai virus penetration into liposomes consists of two steps which are fusion of the viral and liposomal membranes and viral disassembly. Penetration can occur in less than one minute. The virus first causes a liposome to envelop it and then fuses with the leading edge of the developing vacuole. Viral disassembly does not follow immediately but requires release of virus-receptor binding and probably also requires changes in the association between viral proteins.