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Viral Structure

Viral Structure

Viruses are extraordinarily diverse in shape and size, but they all have several structural features in common. All viruses have a core that contains a DNA- or RNA-based genome. The core is surrounded by a protective coat of proteins called the capsid. The capsid is composed of subunits called capsomeres. The capsid and genome-containing core are together known as the nucleocapsid.

Viral Recombination

Viral Recombination

Cells are sometimes infected by more than one virus at once. When two viruses disassemble to expose their genomes for replication in the same cell, similar regions of their genomes can pair together and exchange sequences in a process called recombination. Alternatively, viruses with segmented genomes can swap segments in a process called reassortment.

Protein Complex Assembly

Protein Complex Assembly

Proteins can form homomeric complexes with another unit of the same protein or heteromeric complexes with different types. Most protein complexes self-assemble spontaneously via ordered pathways, while some proteins need assembly factors that guide their proper assembly. Despite the crowded intracellular environment, proteins usually interact with their correct partners and form functional complexes.
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

Viral genomes exhibit remarkable diversity in size, structure, and composition, influencing their replication strategies and interactions with host cells. These genomes consist of either DNA or RNA and may be linear or circular. Additionally, they can be single-stranded or double-stranded, with each configuration affecting how the virus propagates within a host. RNA viruses, for instance, generally have smaller genomes than DNA viruses, a factor that contributes to their high mutation rates and...

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Viral Replication: Lytic Cycle

Bacteriophages, or phages, are viruses that specifically infect bacteria. Among them, T-even bacteriophages, such as T4, exhibit a well-characterized lytic replication cycle in Escherichia coli (E. coli). This process ensures the rapid proliferation of the virus while ultimately leading to the destruction of the bacterial host.Attachment and DNA InjectionThe infection process begins with the recognition and binding of the T4 phage to the E. coli cell surface. Tail fibers of the phage...

Subviral Agents

Subviral Agents

Subviral agents are infectious entities that resemble viruses but lack one or more viral components, such as a capsid or essential replication machinery. These agents include viroids, prions, and satellites, each possessing distinct structural and functional characteristics that influence their mode of infection and replication.Viroids are the simplest subviral agents, consisting of circular, single-stranded RNA molecules without a protein coat. They exclusively infect plants, relying entirely...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 22, 2026

Structure of HIV-1 Capsid Assemblies by Cryo-electron Microscopy and Iterative Helical Real-space Reconstruction

Structure of HIV-1 Capsid Assemblies by Cryo-electron Microscopy and Iterative Helical Real-space Reconstruction

Published on: August 9, 2011

Crosslinking in viral capsids via tiling theory.

R Twarock¹, R W Hendrix

¹Departments of Mathematics and Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK. rt11@york.ac.uk

Journal of Theoretical Biology

|December 13, 2005

Summary

This study introduces a new mathematical framework using multi-level tilings to model virus capsid crosslinking structures. This approach helps determine the geometric compatibility of crosslinking with viral surface structures.

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Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

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Last Updated: Jul 22, 2026

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Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

Area of Science:

Virology
Structural Biology
Mathematical Biology

Background:

Viral capsids protect the viral genome and are composed of protein subunits.
Previous work modeled icosahedral virus capsid structures using tiling theory.
Crosslinking structures within viral capsids require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

To extend tiling theory to model crosslinking structures in viral capsids.
To develop a mathematical framework for analyzing crosslinking compatibility.
To demonstrate the framework using the bacteriophage HK97 case.

Main Methods:

Extension of tiling theory to multi-level tilings.
Application of the framework to model crosslinking in bacteriophage HK97.
Mathematical analysis of geometric compatibility between crosslinking and capsid structure.

Main Results:

A novel framework for modeling virus capsid crosslinking was developed.
The framework was successfully applied to bacteriophage HK97.
The study provides a method to assess the mathematical compatibility of crosslinking with viral geometry.

Conclusions:

Multi-level tiling provides a robust mathematical model for virus capsid crosslinking.
This framework can predict the feasibility of different crosslinking strategies.
The approach offers insights into viral assembly and structural integrity.