Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2025

Simple and Robust in vivo and in vitro Approach for Studying Virus Assembly
Published on: March 1, 2012
Theoretical Studies on Assembly, Physical Stability, and Dynamics of Viruses
Antoni Luque1, David Reguera2,3
1Department of Biology, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, USA.
Abstract:
All matter must obey the general laws of physics and living matter is not an exception. Viruses have not only learnt how to cope with them but have managed to use them for their own survival. In this chapter, we will review some of the exciting physics that are behind viruses and discuss simple physical models that can shed some light on different aspects of the viral life cycle and viral properties. In particular, we will focus on how the structure and shape of the viral capsid, its assembly and stability, and the entry and exit of viral particles and their genomes can be explained using fundamental physics theories.
Related Concept Videos
Protein Complex Assembly
Many viruses self-assemble into a fully functional unit using the infected host cell to...
Viral Structure
What are Viruses?
Assembly of Cytoskeletal Filaments
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria
Assembly of Complex Microtubule Structures

