Preliminary characterization of virus-like particles in a mosquito (Aedes pseudoscutellaris) cell line (Mos. 61)

Electron microscopic examination of an Aedes pseudoscutellaris mosquito cell line (Mos. 61) revealed the presence of a large number of virus-like particles (VLP) in the cytoplasm of approximately 10% of the cells. These particles have a diameter of 36 nm, do not contain a lipid envelope, and have a buoyant density of 1.40 g/ml in CsCl. VLP contain DNA which appears to be single-stranded by SU nuclease assay. PAGE of the VLP demonstrates the presence of four structural polypeptides with molecular weights of 52K, 70K, 75K and 100K daltons, the smaller one being the majro polypeptide species and accounting for 71% of the the total protein mass. The A. pseudoscutellaris VLP appear to share some, but not all, of the characteristics of the genus Densovirus, family Parvoviridae. Their possible biologic importance and taxonomic location are still unclear.