Stability and Shape of Hepatitis B Virus Capsids In Vacuo

Abstract

Viruses at a glance: Ion mobility mass spectrometry allows the identification and differentiation of states in a viral assembly not only by mass but also by conformation. This approach has been used to obtain a biophysical characterization of the hepatitis B virus capsids, and has shown that of its two distinct icosahedral geometries, the spherical capsid structure is preserved in vacuo (see picture).