The incorporation of large impurities into virus crystals

Virus crystals can incorporate a wide range of unusual impurities, not possible for conventional crystals, or even most protein crystals because of the large size of their constituent particles. These impurities include anomalous virions, satellite viruses and biological fibers. Examples of several of these unusual impurities are presented here, along with some of the consequences for the crystal lattices. The high solvent content, the forgiving character of the lattice and the plasticity of the virions allow these incorporations to be possible.