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

Mechanical Protein Functions01:58

Mechanical Protein Functions

Proteins perform many mechanical functions in a cell. These proteins can be classified into two general categories- proteins that generate mechanical forces and proteins that are subjected to mechanical forces. Proteins providing mechanical support to the structure of the cell, such as keratin, are subjected to mechanical force, whereas proteins involved in cell movement and transport of molecules across cell membranes, such as an ion pump, are examples of generating mechanical force. 
Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
Introduction to Virus01:28

Introduction to Virus

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...
What are Viruses?00:50

What are Viruses?

Overview
Viral Structure00:56

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.
Viruses of Archaea01:29

Viruses of Archaea

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...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Biologically Relevant, Cationic Residues in Human Rhinovirus Stabilize Capsid-Bound RNA Duplexes, and Restrict Capsid Flexibility.

Journal of molecular biology·2026
Same author

Different mechanisms for human rhinovirus survival in the presence of deleterious amino acid substitutions at virion protein-protein or RNA-protein interfaces.

Journal of virology·2026
Same author

Engineering mechanical strength and resistance to fatigue of a nanostructured protein material through genetic removal of electrostatic repulsions.

Nanoscale·2025
Same author

Human Rhinovirus B14 with Non-functional Drug-binding Pockets Recovers Infectivity through Stereochemically Constrained Mutations that Restore Capsid Flexibility.

Journal of molecular biology·2025
Same author

Introduction: The Structural Basis of Virus Function.

Sub-cellular biochemistry·2024
Same author

Mechanical Properties of Viruses.

Sub-cellular biochemistry·2024

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System
09:56

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System

Published on: December 23, 2022

Viruses under mechanical force: Implications and applications.

Mauricio G Mateu1

  • 1Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa (CSIC-UAM), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049 Madrid, Spain.

Virus Research
|June 19, 2026
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) reveals how virus mechanical properties are adaptive traits for survival. This research explores virus biomechanics, linking structure, dynamics, and function for biomedical applications.

Keywords:
Atomic force microscopyBrittlenessCapsidMaterial fatigueMechanical forceStiffnessStrengthStructure and dynamicsViral infectionVirionVirus

More Related Videos

Sample Preparation for Single Virion Atomic Force Microscopy and Super-resolution Fluorescence Imaging
05:31

Sample Preparation for Single Virion Atomic Force Microscopy and Super-resolution Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: January 2, 2014

High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements
08:50

High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements

Published on: May 12, 2023

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jun 21, 2026

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System
09:56

Mechanostimulation of Multicellular Organisms Through a High-Throughput Microfluidic Compression System

Published on: December 23, 2022

Sample Preparation for Single Virion Atomic Force Microscopy and Super-resolution Fluorescence Imaging
05:31

Sample Preparation for Single Virion Atomic Force Microscopy and Super-resolution Fluorescence Imaging

Published on: January 2, 2014

High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements
08:50

High-Speed Magnetic Tweezers for Nanomechanical Measurements on Force-Sensitive Elements

Published on: May 12, 2023

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Biophysics
  • Nanotechnology

Background:

  • Viruses are biological entities that evolve under selection pressures.
  • Viruses exhibit mechanical properties like deformability and strength.
  • Atomic force microscopy (AFM) enables mechanical force application on single virus particles.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate virus structure, dynamics, and mechanical properties at the single-particle level.
  • To explore the adaptive value of mechanical properties for virus survival.
  • To understand the relationship between virus structure, dynamics, physical properties, and biological function.

Main Methods:

  • Utilizing Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) to apply controlled mechanical forces on individual virions, capsids, and viral components.
  • Conducting studies under near-physiological conditions.
  • Integrating AFM with biophysical, biochemical, and biological approaches.

Main Results:

  • Virus mechanical properties can be adaptive traits crucial for survival.
  • Mechanical forces act as selection pressures on viruses.
  • Some viruses exert mechanical forces that are also adaptive traits.
  • AFM studies provide insights into virus structure-dynamics-function relationships.

Conclusions:

  • Virus biomechanics is key to understanding virus biology.
  • Knowledge of virus mechanics can lead to new biomedical and nanotechnological applications.
  • AFM is a powerful tool for exploring virus-mechanics-biology connections.