Virolattice

Virolattice is a theoretical construct proposed in the field of virology that describes the potential for viruses to self-assemble into ordered, three-dimensional crystalline structures. This concept draws an analogy to the formation of solid crystals from atoms or molecules, where repeating units arrange themselves in a highly symmetrical and predictable manner. In the case of virolattices, the repeating units would be individual viral particles, such as virions.

The idea suggests that under specific environmental conditions, such as high viral concentration and controlled temperature and pH, viral particles could exhibit attractive forces that lead to their organization into a lattice. These forces might arise from surface properties of the viral capsids or envelopes. The resulting structure, a virolattice, would possess long-range order and symmetry, similar to conventional crystals.

Research into virolattices is largely theoretical, though some experimental observations of viral aggregation at high densities have been interpreted as potential precursors or simplified forms of such structures. Understanding virolattice formation could have implications for viral dynamics within host cells or the environment, and potentially for the development of antiviral strategies or novel materials inspired by viral self-assembly. The precise mechanisms and conditions required for stable virolattice formation remain an area of active investigation.