A theoretical study of the acidification of the rhinovirus capsid

Electrostatic calculations for human rhinovirus 14 indicate that histidine-base residue pairs in the region of a beta-strand interaction between pentamers may be involved in a pH-induced process that leads to the release of viral RNA. Other picornavirus sequences are examined for these residue pairs, a subset of which is present in enteroviruses. Foot and mouth disease virus possesses one of the residue pairs, and cardioviruses, which undergo a separate pH and halide ion-induced capsid dissociation, possess none.