Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Viral Structure00:56

Viral Structure

75.0K
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.
75.0K
Cryo-electron Microscopy01:28

Cryo-electron Microscopy

4.4K
Conventional electron microscopy (EM) involves dehydration, fixation, and staining of biological samples, which distorts the native state of biological molecules and results in several artifacts. Also, the high-energy electron beam damages the sample and makes it difficult to obtain high-resolution images. These issues can be addressed using cryo-EM, which uses frozen samples and gentler electron beams. The technique was developed by Jacques Dubochet, Joachim Frank, and Richard Henderson, for...
4.4K
Introduction to Virus01:28

Introduction to Virus

2.1K
Viruses are unique biological entities that blur the boundary between living and non-living systems. Although they lack cellular structure and metabolic processes, they can exhibit characteristics of life when infecting a host. Their defining feature is a nucleic acid core, composed of either DNA or RNA, encapsulated within a protein coat called a capsid. This simple structure allows them to invade host cells and use their machinery for replication efficiently.Viral Structure and...
2.1K
Size and Structure of Viral Genomes01:26

Size and Structure of Viral Genomes

890
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...
890
Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses of Archaea

567
Archaeal viruses play a crucial role in the ecosystems of extremophilic archaea, particularly those belonging to the phyla Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota. By shaping host evolution and facilitating gene transfer, these viruses influence microbial communities and contribute to genetic diversity in extreme environments. The archaea they infect thrive in acidic hot springs and hydrothermal vents characterized by high temperatures and low pH. Archaeal viruses exhibit remarkable structural...
567
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

128.7K
Overview
128.7K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Population Genomic Analysis and De Novo Assembly Reveal the Origin of Weedy Rice as an Evolutionary Game.

Molecular plant·2019
Same author

Comment to "Deep vein thrombosis induced by vasculitis in the Behçet's syndrome".

Chinese medical journal·2019
Same author

Causes and Clinical Outcomes of Patients Who Are Ineligible for Transcatheter Mitral Valve Replacement.

JACC. Cardiovascular interventions·2019
Same author

Muscleblind‑like 1 destabilizes Snail mRNA and suppresses the metastasis of colorectal cancer cells via the Snail/E‑cadherin axis.

International journal of oncology·2019
Same author

Notes on the Dianous bimaculatus complex with description of a new species from China (Coleoptera, Staphylinidae).

Zootaxa·2019
Same author

Staged reconstructive treatment for extensive irregular cicatricial alopecia after burn.

Medicine·2018

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice
08:31

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

Published on: July 20, 2022

3.8K

Atomic cryo-EM structures of viruses.

Wen Jiang1, Liang Tang2

  • 1Department of Biological Sciences, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 240 S. Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Department of Chemistry, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 240 S. Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Markey Center for Structural Biology, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 240 S. Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA; Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology and Infectious Disease, Purdue University, 240 S. Martin Jischke Drive, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology
|August 9, 2017
PubMed
Summary

Icosahedral viruses have driven advances in cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), enabling routine atomic structure determination. Future research will tackle complex viruses and in situ structures using new cryo-EM techniques.

More Related Videos

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction
09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

47.2K
Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo
08:29

Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo

Published on: October 21, 2014

12.7K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Feb 25, 2026

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice
08:31

Advancing High-Resolution Imaging of Virus Assemblies in Liquid and Ice

Published on: July 20, 2022

3.8K
Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction
09:25

Do's and Don'ts of Cryo-electron Microscopy: A Primer on Sample Preparation and High Quality Data Collection for Macromolecular 3D Reconstruction

Published on: January 9, 2015

47.2K
Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo
08:29

Averaging of Viral Envelope Glycoprotein Spikes from Electron Cryotomography Reconstructions using Jsubtomo

Published on: October 21, 2014

12.7K

Area of Science:

  • Structural biology
  • Virology
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Icosahedral viruses, due to their size and symmetry, have been instrumental in advancing single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) over the past five decades.
  • Technical innovations in cryo-EM were often pioneered using viral structures, leading to routine atomic-resolution determination of isolated viruses since 2008.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the historical role of viruses in cryo-EM development.
  • To outline future directions in structural virology, focusing on complex viral structures and cellular contexts.
  • To introduce electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging as methods for challenging viral structures.

Main Methods:

  • Single-particle cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) for high-resolution structure determination.
  • Electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging for studying pleomorphic viruses and states.

Main Results:

  • Atomic structures of isolated icosahedral viruses are now routinely achievable.
  • Electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging have demonstrated potential for near-atomic resolution.
  • These newer methods open avenues for studying pleomorphic viruses and viral states previously intractable to single-particle cryo-EM.

Conclusions:

  • Viruses have been key drivers of cryo-EM resolution progress.
  • Future structural virology will focus on jumbo viruses, dynamic states, and in situ structures.
  • Electron tomography and sub-tomogram averaging represent a significant advancement for high-resolution cryo-EM of challenging viral systems.