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Updated: Jun 23, 2026
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Live Cell Imaging of Alphaherpes Virus Anterograde Transport and Spread
Published on: August 16, 2013
[Visualization of viruses in living cells]
1Division of Viral Infection, Department of Infectious Disease Control, International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan. ykawagu@ims.u-tokyo.ac.jp
Uirusu
|April 21, 2009
Summary
Live-cell imaging visualizes herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) maturation in real-time. This technique reveals new details about viral particle development and infection progression within cells.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Microscopy
Background:
- Live-cell imaging allows real-time visualization of viral processes.
- Recombinant viruses with fluorescently tagged proteins are crucial for tracking viral components.
- Understanding viral maturation is key to developing antiviral strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of live-cell imaging in studying herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) maturation.
- To highlight recent advancements in visualizing HSV-1 particle development.
- To provide insights into previously unobserved aspects of the HSV-1 maturation pathway.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing live-cell imaging techniques.
- Employing recombinant viruses expressing fluorescently tagged structural viral proteins.
- Observing virion maturation at a particle level within infected cells.
Main Results:
- Live-cell imaging has unveiled previously unreported aspects of viral maturation pathways.
- The technology enables visualization of virion development throughout the infection cycle.
- Recent progress has provided new data on HSV-1 maturation.
Conclusions:
- Live-cell imaging is a powerful tool for dissecting complex viral maturation processes.
- This technology offers unprecedented resolution for studying HSV-1 assembly and egress.
- Continued application of live-cell imaging will likely yield further discoveries in virology.
