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Application of Laser Correlation Spectroscopy for Measuring Virus Size
V N Nikiforov1, S E Vinogradov2, A V Ivanov2
1Physical Faculty, M. V. Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia. nvn@lt.phys.msu.ru.
Bulletin of Experimental Biology and Medicine
|June 9, 2016
Summary
Dynamic light scattering accurately measured virus sizes. Human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) measured 104 nm, and hepatitis A viruses (HAV) measured 28 nm, matching electron microscopy results.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Accurate sizing of viruses is crucial for understanding their biology and for developing diagnostics and therapeutics.
- Traditional methods like electron microscopy require sample fixation, which can alter virus morphology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) for determining the size of intact human immunodeficiency viruses (HIV) and hepatitis A viruses (HAV).
- To compare DLS measurements with established electron microscopy data.
Main Methods:
- Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), also known as laser correlation spectroscopy, was employed.
- Correlation functions of light scattered by purified HIV-1 (subtypes A and B) and HAV samples were measured.
- Results were compared with data obtained from electron microscopy of fixed virus samples.
Main Results:
- DLS determined the size of HIV-1 virions to be 104 nm.
- DLS determined the size of HAV virions to be 28 nm.
- The sizes obtained via DLS showed good agreement with those determined by electron microscopy.
Conclusions:
- Dynamic Light Scattering is a reliable method for accurately measuring the size of viruses like HIV and HAV in a non-invasive manner.
- DLS offers a valuable alternative or complementary technique to electron microscopy for virus characterization.
