Abstract:
Viruses are the smallest self-‐replicating organisms. Even though individually viruses are rather simple, as a group they are exceptionally diverse in both replication strategies and structures. Many viruses are important human pathogens. We use X-‐ray crystallography, cryo-‐electron microscopy, and molecular biology to study the life cycle of human viruses. We investigate macromolecular interactions associated with virus cell entry, genome replication, assembly, and maturation. Viruses are simple enough that we can aspire to understand their biology at a molecular level. Our efforts are directed towards using structural information for the development of treatments for human and animal diseases