Structure and Physics of Viruses

The great challenges of modern science are increasingly requiring the combined efforts of different branches of knowledge. A remarkable example is our longstanding battle to fight and understand viruses, these tiny pathogens that are a permanent companion and threat for living beings and humankind. Viruses have been traditionally a subject of study for biologists, but are increasingly fascinating physicists and chemists alike, dazzled by their clever operation and their outstanding potential for promising applications. What makes viruses special is that they are comparatively simple in the biological context, yet extremely effective in replicating themselves in all kinds of hosts. Viruses have found optimal solutions to survive in very harsh conditions and are teaching us important lessons on how to work efficiently at the nanoscale, making the most of their very limited resources.