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Physics of viral infectivity : Matching genome length with capsid size

Evilevitch, Alex LU orcid and Castelnovo, Martin (2010) p.217-253
Abstract

In this work, we review recent advances in the field of physical virology, presenting both experimental and theoretical studies on the physical properties of viruses. We focus on the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophages as model systems for all of the dsDNA viruses both prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Recent studies demonstrate that the DNA packaged into many dsDNA viral capsids is highly pressurized, which provides a force for the first step of passive injection of viral DNA into either bacterial or eukaryotic cells. Moreover, specific studies on capsid strength show a strong correlation between genome length and capsid size and robustness. The implications of these newly appreciated physical properties of a viral particle with... (More)

In this work, we review recent advances in the field of physical virology, presenting both experimental and theoretical studies on the physical properties of viruses. We focus on the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophages as model systems for all of the dsDNA viruses both prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Recent studies demonstrate that the DNA packaged into many dsDNA viral capsids is highly pressurized, which provides a force for the first step of passive injection of viral DNA into either bacterial or eukaryotic cells. Moreover, specific studies on capsid strength show a strong correlation between genome length and capsid size and robustness. The implications of these newly appreciated physical properties of a viral particle with respect to the infection process are discussed.

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Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding
publication status
published
subject
host publication
Emerging Topics in Physical Virology
editor
Stockley, Peter G and Twarock, Reidun
pages
217 - 253
publisher
Imperial College Press
external identifiers
  • scopus:85042897869
ISBN
9781848164642
9781848164666
DOI
10.1142/9781848164666_0009
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
547967be-4086-4389-9e4c-65ada1690f7f
date added to LUP
2020-06-12 13:48:34
date last changed
2024-01-02 11:34:06
@inbook{547967be-4086-4389-9e4c-65ada1690f7f,
  abstract     = {{<p>In this work, we review recent advances in the field of physical virology, presenting both experimental and theoretical studies on the physical properties of viruses. We focus on the double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) bacteriophages as model systems for all of the dsDNA viruses both prokaryotic and eukaryotic. Recent studies demonstrate that the DNA packaged into many dsDNA viral capsids is highly pressurized, which provides a force for the first step of passive injection of viral DNA into either bacterial or eukaryotic cells. Moreover, specific studies on capsid strength show a strong correlation between genome length and capsid size and robustness. The implications of these newly appreciated physical properties of a viral particle with respect to the infection process are discussed.</p>}},
  author       = {{Evilevitch, Alex and Castelnovo, Martin}},
  booktitle    = {{Emerging Topics in Physical Virology}},
  editor       = {{Stockley, Peter G and Twarock, Reidun}},
  isbn         = {{9781848164642}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{217--253}},
  publisher    = {{Imperial College Press}},
  title        = {{Physics of viral infectivity : Matching genome length with capsid size}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1142/9781848164666_0009}},
  doi          = {{10.1142/9781848164666_0009}},
  year         = {{2010}},
}