Stiffness heterogeneity of small viral capsids

TL;DR

This study combines experimental AFM data with modeling to reveal significant position-dependent stiffness heterogeneity in small viral capsids, challenging previous assumptions and proposing new measurement approaches.

Contribution

It introduces a geometrical model that quantitatively reproduces stiffness heterogeneity in small viral capsids, highlighting the importance of position-dependent elastic properties.

Findings

Position-dependent stiffness observed in small viruses.

Geometrical model accurately reproduces heterogeneity.

Results applicable to AAV8 and HBV capsids.

Abstract

Nanoindentation of viral capsids provides an efficient tool in order to probe their elastic properties. We investigate in the present work the various sources of stiffness heterogeneity as observed in Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) experiments. By combining experimental results with both numerical and analytical modeling, we first show that for small viruses a position-dependent stiffness is observed. This effect is strong and has not been properly taken into account previously. Moreover, we show that a geometrical model is able to reproduce this effect quantitatively. Our work suggests alternative ways of measuring stiffness heterogeneities on small viral capsids. This is illustrated on two different viral capsids: Adeno Associated Virus serotype 8 (AAV8) and Hepatitis B Virus (HBV with T=4). We discuss our results in the light of continuous elasticity modeling.