Mendoza, Carlos I.Reguera, D. (David)2021-09-102021-09-102020-04-212050-084Xhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/179976The successful assembly of a closed protein shell (or capsid) is a key step in the replication of viruses and in the production of artificial viral cages for bio/nanotechnological applications. During self-assembly, the favorable binding energy competes with the energetic cost of the growing edge and the elastic stresses generated due to the curvature of the capsid. As a result, incomplete structures such as open caps, cylindrical or ribbon-shaped shells may emerge, preventing the successful replication of viruses. Using elasticity theory and coarse-grained simulations, we analyze the conditions required for these processes to occur and their significance for empty virus self-assembly. We find that the outcome of the assembly can be recast into a universal phase diagram showing that viruses with high mechanical resistance cannot be self-assembled directly as spherical structures. The results of our study justify the need of a maturation step and suggest promising routes to hinder viral infections by inducing mis-assembly.22 p.application/pdfengcc-by (c) Mendoza, Carlos I. et al., 2020https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Moviment browniàVirusElasticitatBrownian movementsVirusesElasticityinfo:eu-repo/semantics/article7091192021-09-10info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess32314965