Biomaterial Database

Spherical viruses. 1998

J J Rux, and R M Burnett

Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. rux@wista.wistar.upenn.edu

In the past two years, structural studies on spherical viruses have experienced a significant advance with the dramatic increase in the resolution attainable by cryo-electron microscopy and image reconstruction. X-ray crystallography, both alone and, increasingly, in combination with electron microscopy, continues to play a crucial role in elucidating how viruses function.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008854	Microscopy, Electron	Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen.	Electron Microscopy
D008958	Models, Molecular	Models used experimentally or theoretically to study molecular shape, electronic properties, or interactions; includes analogous molecules, computer-generated graphics, and mechanical structures.	Molecular Models,Model, Molecular,Molecular Model
D002213	Capsid	The outer protein protective shell of a virus, which protects the viral nucleic acid. Capsids are composed of repeating units (capsomers or capsomeres) of CAPSID PROTEINS which when assembled together form either an icosahedral or helical shape.	Procapsid,Prohead,Capsids,Procapsids,Proheads
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D014780	Viruses	Minute infectious agents whose genomes are composed of DNA or RNA, but not both. They are characterized by a lack of independent metabolism and the inability to replicate outside living host cells.	Animal Viruses,Zoophaginae,Animal Virus,Virus,Virus, Animal,Viruses, Animal
D046911	Macromolecular Substances	Compounds and molecular complexes that consist of very large numbers of atoms and are generally over 500 kDa in size. In biological systems macromolecular substances usually can be visualized using ELECTRON MICROSCOPY and are distinguished from ORGANELLES by the lack of a membrane structure.	Macromolecular Complexes,Macromolecular Compounds,Macromolecular Compounds and Complexes,Complexes, Macromolecular,Compounds, Macromolecular,Substances, Macromolecular
D018406	Virus Physiological Phenomena	Biological properties, processes, and activities of VIRUSES, including the interactions with the cells they infect.	Viral Physiological Processes,Viral Physiology,Virus Physiological Processes,Physiology, Viral,Viral Physiological Concepts,Viral Physiological Phenomena,Viral Physiological Process,Virus Physiological Concepts,Virus Physiological Phenomenon,Virus Physiological Process,Virus Physiology,Concept, Viral Physiological,Concept, Virus Physiological,Concepts, Viral Physiological,Concepts, Virus Physiological,Phenomena, Viral Physiological,Phenomena, Virus Physiological,Phenomenon, Virus Physiological,Phenomenons, Virus Physiological,Physiological Process, Viral,Physiological Process, Virus,Physiological Processes, Viral,Physiological Processes, Virus,Physiology, Virus,Process, Viral Physiological,Process, Virus Physiological,Processes, Viral Physiological,Processes, Virus Physiological,Viral Physiological Concept,Virus Physiological Concept