Robijn Bruinsma (Theoretical Condensed Matter, Department of Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, USA)
Abstract: Viral RNA molecules are remarkably adapt at orchestrating their own packaging and release during the life cycle of a virus. Simple concepts borrowed from polymer physics and from the physics of self-assembly highlight the exquisitely delicate balance between repulsive and attractive interactions that makes this possible. Despite the highly detailed information available about the structure of complete viruses, there is still considerable uncertainty about the assembly scenario itself that will be discussed in the talk.