Objetivo Viruses are nano-sized, genome-filled protein containers with metastable mechanical properties. They form by spontaneous self-assembly inside the crowded, heterogeneous environment of the infected cells. While structural characterization of viruses is becoming increasingly more refined, essential questions about the viral life cycle remain unanswered up to date. This includes: (i) how do the capsomeres (capsid proteins) rearrange during the infection cycle of a viral capsid? (ii) What are the interaction forces responsible for successful infection of viral capsids? (iii) Which kinetic parameters govern this process? To address these questions, the present proposal aims to understand the physico-biology behind the binding of viral capsids to their host cell membrane using human adeno virus as a model system. To accomplish these goals I will investigate the structural and mechanical properties of those proteins forming the viral capsids and measure the binding force to the targeted cell membrane. High-speed atomic force microscopy (HS-AFM) will allow me to directly observe the ensemble of proteins in action at high spatio-temporal resolution and under near-to physiological conditions. At the same time Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy (SMFS) will allow to measure directly the magnitude of forces involved in the interactions. Having access to the information on structure as well as to the unbinding dynamics of the capsid proteins, I will be able to build a kinetic model of the first steps of viral infection at the single-molecule level. Ámbito científico natural sciencesbiological sciencesmicrobiologyvirologynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiochemistrybiomoleculesproteinsnatural sciencesbiological sciencesgeneticsgenomesviral genomesnatural sciencesphysical sciencesopticsmicroscopynatural sciencesbiological sciencesbiophysics Programa(s) H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Main Programme H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility Tema(s) MSCA-IF-2016 - Individual Fellowships Convocatoria de propuestas H2020-MSCA-IF-2016 Consulte otros proyectos de esta convocatoria Régimen de financiación MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Coordinador RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN Aportación neta de la UEn € 177 598,80 Dirección Broerstraat 5 9712CP Groningen Países Bajos Ver en el mapa Región Noord-Nederland Groningen Overig Groningen Tipo de actividad Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Enlaces Contactar con la organización Opens in new window Sitio web Opens in new window Participación en los programas de I+D de la UE Opens in new window Red de colaboración de HORIZON Opens in new window Coste total € 177 598,80
