Phononics and Micromechanics of Bio-Colloidal Wiseana Iridovirus

By using Brillouin light scattering (BLS), we have investigated phononic properties of Wiseana iridovirus (WIV) assemblies and dispersed individual viruses at hypersonic frequency window. Propagating modes in virus assemblies and localized vibrational eigenmodes of individual virus have been identified. Based on phonon spectra, Young's modulus of the virus has been estimated to be ~ 7 GPa, suggesting that the WIV virions are mechanically more similar to their DNA cores than to their capsid (protein) shells. The results also indicate that viral colloids are mechanically coupled during assembly in contrast to a system of synthetic polymeric colloids.