Also: capsid, icosahedral virus, Caspar-Klug, virus-like particles, protein cages
Many viruses pack their genes in a protein shell (capsid) built from repeated identical units that assemble themselves. Researchers also use empty capsids as tiny containers for materials.
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Caspar and Klug set out principles for how regular viruses build protective shells around their nucleic acid from many identical protein subunits, the basis of the classic theory of icosahedral capsids.
As reported in: Caspar, Klug (1962). Physical Principles in the Construction of Regular Viruses. Cold Spring Harbor Symposia on Quantitative Biology. doi:10.1101/SQB.1962.027.001.005
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Douglas and Young used the shell of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus as a host for making materials inside it, controlled by pH-dependent opening of the shell's pores.
As reported in: Douglas, Young (1998). Host–guest encapsulation of materials by assembled virus protein cages. Nature. doi:10.1038/30211
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