In situ Electron Microscopical Observation of Cells Infected with Herpes Simplex Virus

Abstract

Transport and release of herpes simplex virus (HSV) in an African green monkey kidney cell line (CV-1) was followed by EM for up to 24 h p.i. (post-infection). Transmission electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy were used. For the former approach, EM autoradiography of whole cultured cells and in situ thin section techniques were used. Except for peripheral parts of the cells, where the cytoplasmic membrane could make a ruffling movement relatively freely, virus particles were found only on the dorsal surface of the cell and not on the surface facing the substratum. Observation of thin sections in situ confirmed that the virus particles within intracytoplasmic vacuoles were apparently released by a reverse phagocytic process from the cell surface adjacent to microvillus projections. Progeny virus particles in the nucleus moved to the cell surface within 2 h after maturation.