Figure 1.

Virus-cell interaction represented in the simulation space. (a) A close-up, three-dimensional view of half of the virus bound to the host membrane. (b) Two-dimensional representation of the three-dimensional picture. The simulation space represents the viral membrane overlapping the target membrane. The HA and R species move within a hexagonal lattice domain. Any interaction between the virus and host membrane occurs within the contact area (yellow). An example of using a w = 3, q = 1 criterion for forming a fusible unit is outlined (blue perimeter). (c) Catalog of simulated events in the fusion model. The simulation species are shown on the left-hand side as a top-down view; the corresponding physical interpretations of the species are shown in the middle through cross-sectional side views. The viral and target membranes are labeled V and T, respectively. (Yellow ovals) HA₁ binding domain; (red objects) HA₂ fusion domain of an HA_1,2 trimer. (Brighter red) Portions of the HA₂ domain representing the hydrophobic fusion peptides that inserts into the target membrane. To see this figure in color, go online.