X-ray laser snapshots reveal a “buckling” behaviour that might help protect the viral genome.
When viruses travel through the air in tiny droplets, they can quickly start to dry out. Yet many viruses remain infectious after rehydration—something that is still not fully understood. Now, an international team of researchers, including the CMI COMOTION team, have directly observed how the protein shells of viruses can change shape during dehydration at the European XFEL. This offers new clues to viral resilience and opening new possibilities for virology research. The results, published in Light: Science & Applications, lay the groundwork for potential applications in virology and public health, and can for instance help developing antiviral strategies.
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