Purdue News PhotosPurdue News Photos
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Shown is an artist's conception of the T4 virus just after it has penetrated the cell membrane of the E. coli bacterium, which the virus infects. Purdue University researchers have revealed the conformational changes undergone by the multicolored "baseplate" (at center of image, amid the virus' "legs"), enabling scientists to visualize the infection process with a movie, from which this still image was taken. Improved understanding of the baseplate's behavior could shed light on the infection processes of other viruses.
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The T4 virus is shown here in black and white at two moments in its life cycle, both before and after a portion of its midsection, called the baseplate, undergoes the conformational change necessary for the virus to infect the E. coli bacteria on which it rests. On either side of these images are color close-ups of the baseplate, both before the change (at left) and afterward (at right). By following the changes in T4, Purdue researchers hope to gain insight into the infection process, work which could lead to deeper understanding of how other viruses infect host cells.
(Purdue University graphics/Michael G. Rossmann laboratory and associates)
The story accompanying these graphics can be seen by clicking this link to Rossmann.baseplate
For more information about photographs, send e-mail to:
David Umberger
Associate Director
Purdue News Service
umberger@purdue.edu
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