Coronavirus morphology study using atomic force microscopy

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Abstract

Atomic force microscopy allows high-resolution visualization of enveloped viruses, which include viruses of the Coronaviridae family, to study the nature of their adsorption on various surfaces, to measure the mechanical properties of viruses, to assess the effect of changes in the environment and temperature on morphology. Using force curves, it is possible to calculate the Young’s modulus of a viral particle, to assess the nature of the interaction between the envelope protein and the cellular receptor, and even to measure the strength of this interaction. All these capabilities not only allow us to characterize viruses, but also help prevent the spread of pathogens in the human population and choose the optimal treatment strategy.

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About the authors

A. I. Akhmetova

Lomonosov Moscow State University; Advanced Technologies Center

Email: yaminsky@nanoscopy.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5115-8030

Cand. of Sci. (Physics and Mathematics), Senior Researcher, Leading Specialist, Physical Department

Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

L. V. Kordyukova

Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: yaminsky@nanoscopy.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-6089-1103

Doct. of Sci. (Biology), Leading Researcher, A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology

Russian Federation, Moscow

I. V. Yaminsky

Lomonosov Moscow State University; Advanced Technologies Center

Author for correspondence.
Email: yaminsky@nanoscopy.ru
ORCID iD: 0000-0001-8731-3947

Doct. of Sci. (Physics and Mathematics), Prof., Director General, Physical Department

Russian Federation, Moscow; Moscow

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Supplementary files

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2. Fig.1. 2D and 3D images of coronaviruses on mica in air. Resonance mode, FemtoScan Online software

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3. Fig.2. 2D image and section of coronavirus on mica in air. The particle height is about 50 nm. Resonance mode of AFM

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4. Fig.3. 2D and 3D images and cross-section of the parent strain FEB2 (A, B) on graphite. The height of the particle is 60 nm

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5. Fig.4. 2D and 3D images and cross-section of the ts-mutant F-F3 (A, B) on graphite. The height of the particle is 60 nm

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Copyright (c) 2025 Akhmetova A.I., Kordyukova L.V., Yaminsky I.V.