RESEARCH SUMMARY

We are interested in the structural and physical principles that govern assembly and stabilization of complex viruses. As a model system we use adenovirus, a challenging specimen of interest both in basic virology and nanobiomedicine.

We approach the problem from an interdisciplinary point of view, combining Biophysics, Computational, Structural and Molecular Biology techniques. Sharing expertise and resources is a key pillar in our work. Accordingly, we keep a variety of intra- and extramural collaborations enriching the development and interpretation of our work.

Adenoviruses are pathogens of clinical relevance in the increasingly large immunocompromised population. They are as well widely used as vectors for gene therapy, vaccination and oncolysis.

The viral particle is composed of more than ten different proteins plus the dsDNA viral genome, totaling a molecular weight of 150 MDa. Atomic resolution information on the icosahedrally ordered elements in the mature capsid is available. Our current research lines focus on the less understood aspects of adenovirus assembly, such as: how the viral genome is packaged into the capsid; how does virion maturation occur; what are the key elements modulating virion stability and mechanical properties; how adenovirus evolution relates to that of its hosts; finally, what is the organization of the non-icosahedral virion components.

Accurate knowledge of adenovirus structure and biology is fundamental to both the discovery of anti-adenovirus drugs and the design of new, efficient adenoviral therapeutic tools.