[Submicroscopic characteristics of Marburg virus and its mini genome analog replication in cell cultures]

Marburg virus (Filoviridae) causes severe hemorrhagic fevers in humans and some lower primates with high mortality. The virus genome is formed by a single strand RNA of negative polarity, coding for seven structural proteins. We studied the ultrastructure of Marburg virus replicative cycle and replication of its minigenome RNA (coding for the terminal areas of the genome) in the presence of helper virus in VERO fibroblastoid cell culture and epithelioid MDCK cell culture. Ultrastructural parameters of Marburg virus multiplication in these cell cultures are virtually the same. The virus nucleocapsid assembly is performed on the outer side of EPR membrane and is not associated with preliminary accumulation of the precursor material. Virions form by budding on plasmalemma and are located on the entire surface in Vero cells and only on the basolateral surface of MDCK cells. Replication of minigenome analog of marburg virus is associated with impairment of the helper virus morphogenesis and formation of spherical pseudoviral particles.