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Adenovirus necklace | 18k gold vermeil
If you've ever counted the 240 hexons on an adenovirus capsid, or built a recombinant Ad5 vector for gene therapy, you already recognise this one. The adenovirus is one of the most precisely assembled objects in molecular biology.
The Engineering of the Adenovirus Capsid
The adenovirus capsid is a self-assembling protein cage roughly 90 nanometres across, built from 240 hexon trimers, 12 penton bases, 12 fibre proteins, and a handful of cement proteins. The geometry follows the principle of quasi-equivalence that Caspar and Klug articulated in 1962, which lets a virus build a large, stable container from a limited set of gene products. The same engineering logic now informs synthetic protein cages designed for drug delivery, and modified adenoviral vectors are the backbone of multiple gene therapy and vaccine platforms, including the ChAdOx1 vector used in the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Worn By
The audience is small and overlapping:
- virologists and structural biologists working with non-enveloped viruses
- gene therapy researchers using adenoviral vectors
- vaccinologists and platform biologists in industry or academia
- biology students who have just sat through a viral assembly lecture and want a souvenir
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FAQ
Is this niche enough to give to a working virologist?
Yes. The adenovirus is one of the few viruses that the average virologist will instantly recognise from its capsid geometry alone, and a piece that names it specifically rather than calling it "a virus" tends to land as well-chosen rather than generic.
Why is the adenovirus capsid considered a model for protein engineering?
Because it does a lot with very little. A few hundred copies of three or four proteins self-assemble into a stable, regular, large container. The capsid follows the quasi-equivalence rules that Caspar and Klug worked out in the 1960s, and that geometry is now being copied deliberately by groups designing synthetic protein cages for drug delivery and vaccine platforms.
What's the size, material, and chain?
28 mm pendant in 18k gold vermeil over a sterling silver core, nickel-free. 80 cm gold vermeil chain. Ships free worldwide via DHL Express in 1-5 business days, with all import duties prepaid. Comes in a ready-to-gift jewelry box with the 30-day "Love It or Return It" policy.
Same design as the silver adenovirus?
Yes. Same 28 mm size, same model, same 80 cm chain. Material is the only difference.
Cellular Biology
Step into the fascinating world of cellular biology through our unique jewelry designs. These pieces serve as wearable reflections of life's microscopic wonders, capturing the aesthetics of DNA strands, cellular formations, and more. Far from simple adornments, they spark dialogue and honor the captivating complexities found within biological research. Merging scientific accuracy with artistic flair, each creation offers a tactile experience that bridges the gap between scientific inquiry and aesthetic appreciation.
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