Research into viruses that cause human diseases
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The work of my team has focused predominantly on studying the structure and assembly of herpesvirus particles. Herpesviruses, which include a number of human pathogens, form a structurally uniform but genetically diverse family of DNA viruses. They are among the largest viruses in terms both of genome and particle size and understanding their morphogenesis at a molecular level is therefore of particular interest. The virions have complex and characteristic, multilayered structures in which the genome-containing-capsid is separated from the envelope by a thick, amorphous layer of protein called the tegument. The capsid shell has the form of an icosahedron with 11 pentons and a packaging complex occupying the 12 icosahedral vertices and 150 hexons forming the faces and edges.
We have developed model systems using recombinant baculovirus and bacterially expressed proteins to mimic various aspects of capsid assembly. Electron cryo-microscopy and image reconstruction techniques are used (in collaboration with Professor Wah Chiu) to determine the 3D structures of various particles generated using these models. More information on this technology may be found on the virus structure pages. This has allowed us to determine the locations, shapes and interactions of the proteins within the capsid and to analyse changes that take place during capsid maturation. We are now using these techniques to study changes in particle structure within infected cells during virus infection and release, and to examine their interactions with components of the cellular transport machinery.
Scientific Staff
Dr Walt Adamson
Dr David Pasdeloup
Research Support
Dr Marion McElwee
David McNab
PhD Student
Ashley Roberts
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Institute of Virology University of Glasgow Church Street Glasgow G11 5JR Scotland UK