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Updated: May 19, 2026
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Temporal Analysis of the Nuclear-to-cytoplasmic Translocation of a Herpes Simplex Virus 1 Protein by Immunofluorescent Confocal Microscopy
Published on: November 4, 2018
Analysis of herpes simplex virus type I nuclear particles by flow cytometry
Sandra Loret1, Nabil El Bilali, Roger Lippé
1Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, University of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Summary
Flow cytometry can now sort and purify herpes simplex virus Type 1 nuclear C-capsids. This breakthrough enables detailed analysis of viral maturation intermediates and associated host proteins.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
Background:
- Flow cytometry is a powerful tool for analyzing cells and their molecular processes.
- Typically, flow cytometry analyzes whole cells, not smaller viral particles.
- Studying viral maturation intermediates is challenging due to their size and complexity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a method for separating and purifying viral particles at different maturation stages.
- To enable detailed analysis of viral intermediates and associated host proteins.
- To apply flow cytometry to intracellular viral maturation intermediates.
Main Methods:
- Utilized flow cytometry for particle sorting.
- Labeled viral genomes with Syto 13, a nucleic acid-binding fluorescent marker.
- Focused on herpes simplex virus Type 1 nuclear C-capsids.
Main Results:
- Successfully applied flow cytometry to sort nuclear C-capsid intermediates.
- Demonstrated the ability to detect and purify intracellular viral maturation intermediates.
- Identified nuclear C-capsids as precursors to mature extracellular virions.
Conclusions:
- This is the first instance of using flow cytometry to purify intracellular viral maturation intermediates.
- Opens new avenues for studying viral assembly, maturation, and egress.
- Facilitates analysis of mutant phenotypes and host factors associated with viral intermediates.
