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Published on: July 29, 2021
Electron Tomography as a Tool to Study SARS-CoV-2 Morphology
Hong Wu1, Yoshihiko Fujioka1, Shoichi Sakaguchi1
1Department of Microbiology and Infection Control, Faculty of Medicine, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
Abstract:
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a novel betacoronavirus, is the causative agent of COVID-19, which has caused economic and social disruption worldwide. To date, many drugs and vaccines have been developed for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19 and have effectively controlled the global epidemic of SARS-CoV-2. However, SARS-CoV-2 is highly mutable, leading to the emergence of new variants that may counteract current therapeutic measures. Electron microscopy (EM) is a valuable technique for obtaining ultrastructural information about the intracellular process of virus replication. In particular, EM allows us to visualize the morphological and subcellular changes during virion formation, which would provide a promising avenue for the development of antiviral agents effective against new SARS-CoV-2 variants. In this review, we present our recent findings using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) combined with electron tomography (ET) to reveal the morphologically distinct types of SARS-CoV-2 particles, demonstrating that TEM and ET are valuable tools for visually understanding the maturation status of SARS-CoV-2 in infected cells. This review also discusses the application of EM analysis to the evaluation of genetically engineered RNA viruses.
Insights
Electron microscopy (EM) visualizes severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) particle formation. This technique aids in understanding viral maturation and developing antivirals against new SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Microscopy
- Structural Biology
Background:
- Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes COVID-19, leading to global disruption.
- Emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants pose challenges to existing treatments and vaccines.
- Understanding viral replication at the ultrastructural level is crucial for developing new therapies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the application of electron microscopy (EM) for visualizing SARS-CoV-2 ultrastructure.
- To demonstrate how EM techniques can reveal distinct SARS-CoV-2 particle types and maturation stages.
- To highlight EM's potential in evaluating antiviral strategies against evolving viral variants.
Main Methods:
- Utilized transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to obtain high-resolution images of SARS-CoV-2.
- Employed electron tomography (ET) to reconstruct three-dimensional ultrastructural details of virions.
- Analyzed morphological changes during intracellular SARS-CoV-2 replication and virion formation.
Main Results:
- TEM and ET successfully visualized morphologically distinct types of SARS-CoV-2 particles.
- These methods provided insights into the maturation status of SARS-CoV-2 within infected cells.
- The study demonstrated the value of EM in understanding viral particle heterogeneity.
Conclusions:
- Electron microscopy (TEM and ET) is a powerful tool for studying SARS-CoV-2 ultrastructure and maturation.
- Visualizing viral particle morphology aids in understanding virus-host interactions.
- EM analysis offers a promising approach for developing antivirals effective against new SARS-CoV-2 variants and evaluating engineered RNA viruses.
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