Variability of dry mass as a fundamental biological property demonstrated for the case of Vaccinia virions

Abstract

The dry mass of individual vaccinia virions, as an example of a presumably uniform biological population, prepared in different lost at the Institute for Tropical Hygiene in Hamburg, was tested for variability by quantitative electron microscopy. A value of 5.26 X 10(-15) g for the median weight of the particle was calculated from 7,300 determinations. By assessing the variability of polystyrene latex spheres, which were used as mass standards, we demonstrated that the variability of dry mass of vaccinia virions is fivefold greater than the variability (standard) introduced by the method for determining mass. It was concluded that while genetic control in a presumably homozygous virion is strict with respect to quality, quantity of viral components (other than DNA) varies in fashion that can be aptly described by a log-normal distribution. It is recognized that this observation is empirically supported by the paradigm that any composite biological entity is subject to quantitative variability, the more so the heavier the individual representatives of a species are. In addition, the effects that extractions and staining have on the dry mass of vaccinia are reported, as well as is the median for the dry mass of other strains of pox viruses.

BioMEMS to bionanotechnology: state of the art in integrated biochips and future prospects

“…10(b) shows the resonant frequency shift (∆f = 60 kHz) after the addition of a single virus particle. We measured an average dry mass of 9.5 fg for a single vaccinia virus particle, which is in the range of the expected mass of 5-8 fg 16 .…”

Measuring Mass of Nanoparticles and Viruses in Liquids with Nanometer-Scale Pores

“…There is need for the development of new methods that can estimate the mass of nanoparticles, such as virions, in liquids. The ability to quickly estimate nanoparticles’ mass in liquids would greatly facilitate the purification of biological materials, extraction of minerals, clarification of wastewater, and many other scientific and industrial applications. ,− Because biological nanoparticles interact with electrolytes dissolved in the bulk aqueous phase, it would be advantageous to measure their masses while the particles are in the liquid. , Field flow fractionation and ultracentrifugation require relatively large sample volumes, high analyte concentrations, relatively long measurement times, limited by the sample turbidity, and they have difficulties with complex and unknown samples. , …”

Calibration of transmission electron microscopic mass determination using objects with known mass distribution

“…Zeitler and Bahr developed a routine method for the dry mass determination of individual isolated objects, with masses between 10-11 and 10-l8 g, such as thrombocytes, erythrocytes, spermatozoa and bacteria (Zeitler & Bahr, 1962;. The method of Zeitler and Bahr also proved suitable for the dry mass measurement of virus particles (Bahr et al, 1976(Bahr et al, , 1980.…”