Research

My research area is Virus Biophysics. Research focuses on key physical mechanisms controlling replication of double-stranded DNA and RNA viruses. Experimental model systems used in my group are dsDNA bacteriophages, human Herpes viruses and Rotaviruses. I am specifically interested in physical mechanisms of genome packaging and ejection from viral capsids, viral packaging motors, DNA structural transitions inside the capsids associated with infection, viral DNA ejection dynamics, assembly and mechanical stability of capsids, effects of molecular crowding on viral replication. My current research direction is centered around our discovery of high internal DNA pressure inside phage and human Herpesvirus capsids. This DNA pressure reaches tens of atmospheres! We have unique capability to perform both single molecule and bulk measurements. The main techniques are atomic force microscopy, microcalorimetry, fluorescence microscopy, light scattering, solution X-ray and neutron scattering.