Interface between Adjacent UV-Treated or Detergent-Treated Vaccinia virus Particles

While investigating isolated or agglomerates of treated Vaccinia virus intracellular mature (IMV) particles in atomic force microscopy (AFM) equipment we noticed that in some occasions the enveloped particles had been totally disrupted, with the interior being spread around. We have also observed in these samples what appear to be some rather intriguing viral surface interactions. Instead of showing a clear division between individual virions the particles seem to be continuous at the interfaces that show coalescence. In order to understand what was happening we focused our attention on the analysis of the images of the interface between virions particles, trying to find out what was the explanation for such type of particle surface interaction and in which conditions it would take place.