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Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria01:10

Intracellular Movement of Viruses and Bacteria

Intracellular bacteria and viruses often comprise a group of highly infectious pathogens that can cause several diseases. Bacterial pathogens include those belonging to the genus Rickettsia responsible for conditions such as rocky mountain spotted fever and the Mediterranean spotted fever; Chlamydia, a genus responsible for a sexually transmitted disease; Coxiella burnetii, an agent responsible for Q fever. Viral pathogens include vaccinia—a poxvirus, and herpes simplex virus—a virus that...
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The cytoskeleton is a network of protein filaments present within the cell, having three distinct filaments ̶   microfilaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments. Each has characteristic features that distinguish them, including the dynamics of their assembly and disassembly, mechanical properties, polarity, and the type of molecular motors associated with them. Earlier, they were thought to be present only in eukaryotic cells; however, their homologs were...
Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments01:12

Adaptability of Cytoskeletal Filaments

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Viral Structure00:56

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Updated: May 12, 2026

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells
09:18

Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells

Published on: September 7, 2018

Do viruses require the cytoskeleton?

Jason D Matthews1, Rachel Morgan, Christie Sleigher

  • 1Department of Biology, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA, USA.

Virology Journal
|April 20, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Viruses do not require a functional cytoskeleton for replication. This study found that inhibiting microtubules and actin filaments did not affect the replication of Sindbis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, or Herpes simplex virus.

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Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles
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Correlative Light Electron Microscopy (CLEM) for Tracking and Imaging Viral Protein Associated Structures in Cryo-immobilized Cells
09:18

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Published on: September 7, 2018

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles
07:47

Directly Measuring Forces Within Reconstituted Active Microtubule Bundles

Published on: May 10, 2022

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • The cytoskeleton is traditionally considered essential for viral replication.
  • Previous observations suggested rubella virus replication occurs without microtubule function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the necessity of the cytoskeleton for the replication of diverse viruses.
  • To expand on initial findings with rubella virus.

Main Methods:

  • Quantified viral replication (plaque-forming units/ml) in cells treated with anti-microtubule (colchicine, noscapine, paclitaxel) or anti-actin (cytochalasin D) drugs.
  • Examined specific steps in Sindbis virus infection cycle under drug treatment.

Main Results:

  • No significant effect on viral replication titers for Sindbis virus, vesicular stomatitis virus, and Herpes simplex virus.
  • Colchicine treatment caused Golgi fragmentation and viral protein redistribution in Sindbis virus-infected cells.
  • Viral genome and sub-genome RNA levels decreased, but double-stranded RNA and protein levels remained unchanged.

Conclusions:

  • Viral replication is not dependent on a functional cytoskeleton.
  • Viruses may not utilize the cytoskeleton or can employ alternative pathways when it's unavailable.