A second form of infectious bursal disease virus-associated tubule contains VP4

Preparations of density gradient-purified infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) were found to contain full and empty icosahedral virions, type I tubules with a diameter of about 60 nm, and type II tubules 24 to 26 nm in diameter. By immunoelectron microscopy we demonstrate that virions and both types of tubular structures specifically react with anti-IBDV serum. In infected cells intracytoplasmic and intranuclear type II tubules reacted exclusively with an anti-VP4 monoclonal antibody, as did type II tubules in virion preparations. The immunofluorescence pattern with the anti-VP4 antibody correlated with electron microscopical findings. Neither purified extracellular nor intracellular virions were labeled with the anti-VP4 MAb. Our data show that the type II tubules contain VP4 and suggest that VP4 is not part of the virus particle.