Physics of virus assembly: energetics and dynamics

该奖项支持材料科学，软物质物理和生物学界面的理论研究和教育。这项研究的目的是阐明RNA在病毒颗粒形成中的作用。PI建议探索RNA对病毒颗粒组装的影响，重点是其分支结构和衣壳内的构型。该研究的目的是研究RNA在形成具有二十面体对称性的球形衣壳和具有圆锥形结构的HIV衣壳中的作用。 这将是通过使用的分支聚合物和泊松-玻尔兹曼近似静电相互作用的场理论方法的组合。分析理论将通过蒙特卡罗和布朗动力学模拟来增强。将修改该方法以研究未成熟HIV颗粒形成的动力学、膜变形动力学和衣壳蛋白转运。了解病毒外壳的形成可能会影响纳米科学、纳米技术和基因治疗等新兴领域的进展。特别是，这项研究可能有助于替代的抗病毒策略的基础上直接干扰组装的传染性病毒粒子。该奖项将有助于教育和培训的本科生，研究生和研究生在一个多学科的环境，为他们提供专业知识，在软凝聚态物质和生物物理学。PI将为滨江的少数民族中学生组织一个外展计划，旨在提高代表性不足的群体在科学和技术方面的参与。非技术性总结该奖项支持材料科学，软物质物理和生物学接口的理论研究和教育。 病毒最简单的形式是由一个称为衣壳的蛋白质外壳组成，衣壳包裹着病毒基因组。在适当的条件下，衣壳蛋白围绕其基因组自发组装。现在广泛接受的是，RNA在病毒颗粒的稳定性中具有重要作用。PI将研究RNA在球形、圆柱形和圆锥形病毒外壳组装中的作用。特别是，她旨在解释圆锥形结构的自发形成，这是HIV衣壳的一个显著特征。主要问题是：与基因组的相互作用是否有助于HIV锥形结构的稳定性？了解病毒外壳的形成可能会影响纳米科学、纳米技术和基因治疗等新兴领域的进展。特别是，这项研究可能会导致替代的抗病毒策略的基础上，直接干扰组装的传染性病毒颗粒。该奖项将有助于教育和培训的本科生，研究生和研究生的多学科环境，为他们提供专业知识，在软凝聚态物质和生物物理学。PI将为滨江的少数民族中学生组织一个外展计划，旨在增加代表性不足的群体对科学和技术的参与。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research and education at the interface of materials science, soft matter physics and biology. The objective of the proposed research is to elucidate the role of RNA in the formation of virus particles. The PI proposes to explore the impact of RNA on the assembly of virus particles focusing on its branching structure and configurations inside capsids. The goal of the research is to investigate the role of RNA in the formation of spherical capsids with icosahedral symmetry and HIV capsids with conical structures. This will be achieved by using a combination of field theoretical methods developed for branched polymers and the Poisson-Boltzmann approximation for electrostatic interactions. The analytical theory will be augmented by Monte Carlo and Brownian dynamics simulations. This methodology will be modified to study kinetics of formation of immature HIV particles, membrane deformation dynamics and capsid protein transport. Understanding the formation of viral shells could influence progress in emerging areas of nanoscience, nanotechnology, and gene therapy. In particular, this research could contribute to alternative antiviral strategies based on direct interference with the assembly of infectious viral particles.This award will contribute to the education and training of undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students in a multidisciplinary environment providing them with expertise in soft condensed matter and biological physics. The PI will organize an outreach program for the middle school minority students in Riverside that is aimed to increase participation of underrepresented groups in science and technology.NONTECHNICAL SUMMARYThis award supports theoretical research and education at the interface of materials science, soft matter physics and biology. In its simplest form, a virus is composed of a protein shell called the capsid that encloses the viral genome. Under the appropriate conditions, the capsid proteins assemble spontaneously around its genome. It is now widely accepted that RNA has an important role in the stability of viral particles. The PI will investigate the role of RNA in the assembly of spherical, cylindrical and conical viral shells. In particular, she aims to explain the spontaneous formation of conical structures, a distinguished feature of HIV capsids. The main question that will be addressed: Does the interaction with genome contribute to the stability of HIV conical structure?Understanding the formation of viral shells could influence progress in emerging areas of nanoscience, nanotechnology, and gene therapy. In particular, this research could result in alternative antiviral strategies based on direct interference with the assembly of infectious viral particles.This award will contribute to the education and training of undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate students in a multidisciplinary environment providing them with expertise in soft condensed matter and biological physics. The PI will organize an outreach program for the middle school minority students in Riverside that is aimed to increase participation of underrepresented groups in science and technology.