Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 25, 2026

In Vitro Disassembly of Influenza A Virus Capsids by Gradient Centrifugation
Published on: March 27, 2016
Virus capsid assembly across different length scales inspire the development of virus-based biomaterials
Ekaterina Selivanovitch1, Trevor Douglas1
1Department of Chemistry, Indiana University, 800 E. Kirkwood Av., Bloomington, IN 47405, United States.
Abstract:
In biology, there are an abundant number of self-assembled structures organized according to hierarchical levels of complexity. In some examples, the assemblies formed at each level exhibit unique properties and behaviors not present in individual components. Viruses are an example of such where first individual subunits come together to form a capsid structure, some utilizing a scaffolding protein to template or catalyze the capsid formation. Increasing the level of complexity, the viral capsids can then be used as building blocks of higher-level assemblies. This has inspired scientists to design and construct virus capsid-based functional nano-materials. This review provides some insight into the assembly of virus capsids across several length scales, and certain properties that arise at different levels, providing examples found in naturally occurring systems and those that are synthetically designed.
More Related Videos
09:08Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Published on: July 27, 2021
09:20Isolation of Next-Generation Gene Therapy Vectors through Engineering, Barcoding, and Screening of Adeno-Associated Virus AAV Capsid Variants
Published on: October 18, 2022
Related Concept Videos
What are Viruses?
Introduction to Virus
Viruses of Archaea
Viruses with RNA Genomes
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria