ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Annular lipid shell

Okay kiddo, imagine a tiny little ball that's too small to see even with your eyes. Now, inside this little ball, there are some fats that are arranged in a circular shape similar to a donut. This donut-shaped structure made up of fats is called an annular lipid shell.

This annular lipid shell is very important in our bodies because it surrounds certain proteins that need protection. Imagine your favorite toy that you want to keep safe. You put it inside a box and cover it with cushioning to make sure it doesn't break. Similarly, proteins in our body need to be protected from getting damaged or destroyed, so the annular lipid shell acts as a protective layer around these proteins.

Sometimes, when things go wrong in our body because of a disease, these annular lipid shells become unstable and break apart. This can lead to serious health problems, so scientists are working hard to find ways to help stabilize these shells.

So, in short, an annular lipid shell is like a little donut-shaped barrier that surrounds some important proteins in our body to keep them safe and healthy.