Exploring the Paths of Self-Assembly and Disassembly of Virions and Virus-Like Particles

Dear Colleagues,

The development of effective antivirals requires a thorough understanding of the molecular details involved in the viral life cycle. Among the functions performed by viral capsids is that of enclosing the genetic content immediately after viral morphogenesis and until a new cell is infected, then the viral genes must exit the capsid to continue with the subsequent steps of infection. Every virus must deal with these two critical and antagonist steps that, in some cases, have profound similarities in their molecular downhill transition toward less energetic states.

To decipher how these processes occur, experimental and theoretical approaches have been carried out, obtaining complementary data that enable us to determine how to interfere with these processes, so finely tuned by nature. Structural and time-resolved experimental techniques (especially single-molecule methodologies), in combination with theoretical modeling, have boosted our knowledge about the molecular details of such complex processes. By gaining the understanding of how a virus assembles or dismantles, it becomes possible to design efficient and broad antivirals targeted to interfere with these two processes. Furthermore, the acquired knowhow would allow the use of virus-like particles in vaccine design and for other nanotechnological purposes.

This Special Issue will explore the fundamental basis of virus assembly and disassembly processes. As this multidisciplinary research field prominently includes physics, biology, and chemistry, original papers in these areas investigating the fundamental basis of self-assembly (and disassembly) processes are welcome, especially those proposing new models, antiviral strategies or implications for nanotechnological use.

Dr. Alejandro Valbuena
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the Special Issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-anonymized peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Viruses is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.