AAV model was prepared starting from the PDB file 1lp3, which was imported in Blender using the MolecularNodes AddOn (B. Johnston) to generate a complete viral object. The object was then elaborated with Blender to make it a single mesh, clean intersecting faces and other artifacts, and exported as .stl to be sliced with PrusaSlicer. In the slicing program, a negative sphere was inserted to have empty models and speeding up printing. Finally, the model was cut in two for easy printing, and composed with vinyl glue. 

This model is one of a series prepared for a didactic exhibition at CNR in Milano (Italy). All models are scaled to 1 million times and printed in the lab with a PRUSA MK3S 3D printing machine. 

While most files from 3d.nih db were modified using MeshLab, Blender and PrusaSlicer (see each virus for details). Some intermediate files (.blend or .obj) are available on request, this AAV model was created from scratch, using Bòlender and the Molecular Node AddOn (https://bradyajohnston.github.io/MolecularNodes ). 

The collection includes Yellow Mottle Tymovirus (YMT), Phages T7 and T4, Influenza, Zika, Papilloma, AdenoAssociated, and Ebola virus. All models were printed in various colors, and samples were distributed to observe symmetries, proportions and other features of each virus.