RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Topography, spike dynamics and nanomechanics of individual native SARS-CoV-2 virions
JF bioRxiv
FD Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
SP 2020.09.17.302380
DO 10.1101/2020.09.17.302380
A1 Kiss, Bálint
A1 Kis, Zoltán
A1 Pályi, Bernadett
A1 Kellermayer, Miklós S.Z.
YR 2020
UL http://biorxiv.org/content/early/2020/09/17/2020.09.17.302380.abstract
AB SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic, displays a corona-shaped layer of spikes which play fundamental role in the infection process. Recent structural data suggest that the spikes possess orientational freedom and the ribonucleoproteins segregate into basketlike structures. How these structural features regulate the dynamic and mechanical behavior of the native virion, however, remain unknown. By imaging and mechanically manipulating individual, native SARS-CoV-2 virions with atomic force microscopy, here we show that their surface displays a dynamic brush owing to the flexibility and rapid motion of the spikes. The virions are highly compliant and able to recover from drastic mechanical perturbations. Their global structure is remarkably temperature resistant, but the virion surface becomes progressively denuded of spikes upon thermal exposure. Thus, both the infectivity and thermal sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 rely on the dynamics and the mechanics of the virus.One sentence summary The native coronavirus 2 displays a dynamic surface layer of spikes, a large mechanical compliance and unique self-healing capacity.Competing Interest StatementThe authors have declared no competing interest.