Elasticity Theory on Curved Surfaces

Among numerous biological systems, viruses have attracted significant attention due to their ubiquity and profound impact on human life. The genetic material of most viruses is encapsulated within a protein shell known as 'capsid'. Understanding the process of viral capsid assembly presents a fundamental challenge, not only because it is a critical stage in the viral life cycle, but also because it serves as a key target for antiviral therapies. Our previous studies highlighted the critical role of the formation of the first pentameric defect, which completely alters the geometric nature of the growing capsid. In this study, we present our investigation of the interaction between pentameric defects and the capsid as the protein shell assembles. Our findings highlight the critical role of the boundary geometry of the growing shell in the emergence of the first disclination. Additionally, we explore the processes of capsid assembly and disassembly using our coarse-grained molecular dynamics model.