There are three kinds of answers: ones that are mostly right, ones that are mostly wrong, and those that once were right but now are wrong. THe outer shell of a virus is called the capsid, and consists of various proteins, which are arranged to enable the virus to enter and control a host cell.These proteins are called protomers and are assembled in units called capsomeres.here are three kinds of answers: ones that are mostly right, ones that are mostly wrong, and those that once were right but now are wrong. THe outer shell of a virus is called the capsid, and consists of various proteins, which are arranged to enable the virus to enter and control a host cell.