Dresden 2009 – wissenschaftliches Programm

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 23: Physics of Bacteria and Viruses

BP 23.6: Vortrag

Donnerstag, 26. März 2009, 18:30–18:45, ZEU 260

Mechanics of the influenza virus are dominated by its lipid bilayer — •Iwan A. T. Schaap, Frederic Eghiaian, John Skehel, and Claudia Veigel — National Institute for Medical Research, Mill Hill, London, UK

The influenza virus protects its RNA genome by a loosely ordered non-symmetric protein capsid that is enveloped by a lipid bilayer. This membrane contains the various proteins responsible for binding and fusion with the target cell. The composite architecture helps the virus to meet two apparently conflicting demands on its rigidity during its life cycle: 1) it should persist in the often hostile extracellular environment when it transfers from host to host, and 2) it should permit the viral membrane to fuse with the acidic compartments of the target cell to allow infection.

In order to understand how the various parts of the viral structure contribute to its mechanical properties we used atomic force microscopy and finite element modeling to characterize the mechanical performance of influenza virus and compared it to the response of several simplified model systems.

We have found that the elastic properties of the influenza virus are best described by membrane mechanics. In contrast to the symmetrical non-enveloped viruses, the relatively soft influenza virus does not rely on a though protein shell for its survival.