Co-Localization of Influenza Virus and Mucin in Droplets on Surfaces

JIN PAN, Nicole C. Rockey, Seema Lakdawala, Nisha Duggal, Linsey Marr, Virginia Tech

     Abstract Number: 449
     Working Group: Health-Related Aerosols

Abstract
The inactivation of influenza virus or other respiratory viruses in droplets and aerosols depends on their chemical composition, among other factors. To investigate how interactions between virions and proteins impact the viability of virus in droplets, we visualized the localization of influenza virus and mucin, a glycoprotein that is present in saliva and airway surface liquid, by fluorescently labeling the virions and proteins, exposing them to varying levels of relative humidity, and imaging them. During evaporation, virions and mucin are driven to the outer edge of the drying droplets by Marangoni flow, resulting in co-localization of virions and mucin and the “coffee-ring” effect. This effect was more prominent when the drying droplet was closer to the point of phase change, i.e., the transition from the semi-solid phase to the solid phase. This finding suggested that the coffee-ring pattern might enhance the protective effect of mucin on virions by concentrating them to form aggregates.