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Structural changes and aggregation of human influenza virus.
Jason N Campbell1, Richard M Epand, Paul S Russo
1Department of Chemistry, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803-1804, USA.
Biomacromolecules
|September 14, 2004
Summary
Lowering pH causes intact human influenza virus particles to rapidly increase in size and aggregate. This pH-induced aggregation is a key factor in understanding influenza virus behavior in different environments.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Biophysics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Human influenza virus (PR-8 and X-31 strains) structural changes were investigated.
- Understanding virus behavior under varying pH conditions is crucial for virology and drug development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the in vitro pH-induced structural and aggregation changes in intact human influenza virus particles.
- To characterize the dynamic light scattering changes associated with pH reduction.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic light scattering (DLS) was used to study virus particle size and aggregation.
- Scattering profiles were analyzed at different pH levels (7.4 and 5.0).
Main Results:
- Reducing pH from 7.4 to 5.0 caused a significant increase in light scattering intensity.
- Virus particles showed increased polydispersity and aggregation at lower pH.
- Scattering profiles at pH 5.0 closely matched models of aggregated spheres, not isolated particles.
Conclusions:
- Intact influenza virus particles exhibit an instantaneous increase in hydrodynamic size upon acidification.
- Acidification induces virus particle aggregation over minutes to hours.
- Virus particles are non-uniform and prone to aggregation at reduced pH.