Viruses have a protein shell, called the viral capsid, that encapsulates and hence provides protection for the viral genome. The distribution of the proteins in the capsids is highly structured and follows an organisational principle that can be described based on group theory and tiling theory. It provides a basis for mathematical models that address the self-assembly of the capsids from their capsid proteins, and may ultimately be used to assist the design of anti-viral therapeutics.
@article{RFM_2006__8__83_0, author = {Twarock, Reidun}, title = {Mathematical models for the structure and self-assembly of viruses}, journal = {Femmes & math}, pages = {83--87}, publisher = {Association femmes et math\'ematiques}, volume = {8}, year = {2006}, language = {en}, url = {http://archive.numdam.org/item/RFM_2006__8__83_0/} }
Twarock, Reidun. Mathematical models for the structure and self-assembly of viruses. Femmes & math, Forum 8 des Jeunes Mathématiciennes, Tome 8 (2006), pp. 83-87. http://archive.numdam.org/item/RFM_2006__8__83_0/
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