In Keef et al., Assembly Models for Papovaviridae based on Tiling Theory (submitted to J. Phys. Biol.), 2005 [1] we extended an equilibrium assembly model to the ðpseudo ÞT 1⁄4 7 viral capsids in the family of Papovaviridae providing assembly pathways for the most likely or primary intermediates and computing their concentrations. Here this model is applied to Murine Polyomavirus based on the a...

In a seminal paper Caspar and Klug established a theory that provides a family of polyhedra as blueprints for the structural organisation of viral capsids. In particular, they encode the locations of the proteins in the shells that encapsulate, and hence provide protection for, the viral genome. Despite of its huge success and numerous applications in virology experimental results have provided...

A vital constituent of a virus is its protein shell, called the viral capsid, that encapsulates and hence protects the viral genome. The surface structures of a large number of icosahedral viruses can be modelled via Caspar-Klug Theory, which has hence become one of the fundamental concepts in virology. However, growing experimental evidence have shown that a significant fraction of viruses fal...

In a landmark paper Sir Aaron Klug and Don Caspar have established a theory that predicts the surface structures of viruses in terms of a family of polyhedra [1]. It is fundamental in virology and has a broad spectrum of applications, ranging from image analysis of experimental data to the construction of models for the self-assembly of viral capsids (i.e. of the protein shells encapsulating, a...

Papillomaviruses were originally grouped together with the polyomaviruses in a single taxonomic group, the Papovaviridae. The division into two separate groups was based on genomic organisation, virion size (polyomaviruses being smaller (50 nm) than papillomaviruses (55 nm)), and on their diVering molecular patterns of replication. Papillomaviruses are epitheliotropic, with the exception of bov...

Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) (Figure 1a) is the major catechin component of green tea (Camellia sinensis). It has been shown to have antiviral properties against DNA viruses such as herpes simplex virus (HSV; Herpesviridae) [1], adenovirus (Adenoviridae) [2], human papilloma virus (HPV; Papovaviridae) [3], and hepatitis B virus (HBV; Hepadnaviridae) [4], and RNA viruses such as influenza vir...

A vital constituent of a virus is its protein shell, called the viral capsid, that encapsulates and hence provides protection for the viral genome. Assembly models are developed for viral capsids built from protein building blocks that can assume different local bonding structures in the capsid. This situation occurs, for example, for viruses in the family of Papovaviridae, which are linked to ...

TO THE EDITOR: The BK virus (BKV) is a human polyomavirus of the Papovaviridae family and causes clinical disease mainly in immunocompromised hosts such as patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus or transplant recipients [1]. Only a few cases of BKV encephalitis have been reported in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) transplant recipients, with the majority of cases presenting with conc...

Viruses belonging to 9 families have been detected in cetaceans. We critically review the clinical features, pathology and epidemiology of the diseases they cause. Cetacean morbillivirus (family Paramyxoviridae) induces a serious disease with a high mortality rate and persists in several populations. It may have long-term effects on the dynamics of cetacean populations either as enzootic infect...