Devastating plant virus revealed in atomic detail

The complex 3D structure of one of the world’s most lethal families of plant viruses has been revealed in unprecedented detail by scientists at the University of Leeds. Geminiviruses are responsible for diseases affecting crops such as cassava and maize in Africa, cotton in the Indian subcontinent and tomatoes across Europe. Being able to see its structure in great detail is vital as it could help virologists and molecular biologists better understand the virus life cycle, and develop new ways to stop the spread of these viruses and the diseases they cause.

Read the full press release on the University of Leeds website