Fusion of Semliki Forest virus infected aedes albopictus cells at low pH is a fusion from within

Abstract

Summary Herein, it is shown for the first time that the mechanism of fusion followed in Aedes albopictus cells infected with Semliki Forest virus induced by low pH exposure is a “fusion from within”. Several parameters were studied disclosing that the development of the fusion capacity of the cells is directly related to the synthesis of viral specific products. These findings were further substantiated by utilizing various chemicals to inhibit viral specific events during infection, protein synthesis and maturation. Removal of exogenous virions produced at 16 hours post infection by proteinase K digestion clearly revealed that the viral proteins located at the cell surface and not the exogenous virions were responsible for the fusogenic activity. The presence of these viral proteins at the cell surface was disclosed by immunofluorescence employing anti-SFV antibodies elicited in rabbits. Additional evidence for the participation of the viral proteins at the cell surface in the fusion reaction was obtained by Bromelaine digestion which inhibited the fusion and tunicamycin treatment which only partially inhibited the fusion but revealed the inevitable presence of the E₁ protein.