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Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus
09:08

Generation and Assembly of Virus-Specific Nucleocapsids of the Respiratory Syncytial Virus

Published on: July 27, 2021

STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT OF VIRUSES OBSERVED IN THE ELECTRON MICROSCOPE : IV. VIRUSES OF THE RI-APC GROUP

C Morgan1, C Howe, H M Rose

  • 1(From the Departments of Microbiology and of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York).

The Journal of Biophysical and Biochemical Cytology
|October 30, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Electron microscopy revealed RI-APC virus particles forming cubic body-centered lattice crystals within infected HeLa cell nuclei. Virus release involved nuclear membrane disruption, with no cytoplasmic development observed.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • RI-APC viruses are a group of significant pathogens.
  • Understanding viral replication mechanisms is crucial for developing antiviral strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To elucidate the ultrastructure and assembly of RI-APC viruses within infected host cells.
  • To investigate the replication cycle and cellular localization of RI-APC viruses.

Main Methods:

  • Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of infected HeLa cells.
  • Analysis of viral particle morphology, size, and arrangement.
  • Light microscopy for histochemical staining (Feulgen reaction).

Main Results:

  • RI-APC viral particles, approximately 60 nm in diameter, were observed in infected HeLa cell nuclei.
  • Virus particles formed dense, crystalline arrays with a cubic body-centered lattice structure.
  • Viral crystals underwent disintegration, leading to nuclear membrane disruption and release of virus into the cytoplasm.
  • No evidence of viral replication in the cytoplasm was found.
  • Feulgen staining indicated the presence of viral nucleic acids within crystals and aggregates.

Conclusions:

  • RI-APC virus assembly occurs within the host cell nucleus, forming ordered crystalline structures.
  • Viral release is mediated by nuclear membrane breakdown, suggesting intranuclear replication.
  • The observed cubic body-centered lattice provides insight into viral assembly mechanisms.

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