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Budding process and maturation of human immunodeficiency virus examined by means of pre- and post-embedding

T Katsumoto1, M Asanaka, S Kageyama

  • 1Department of Virology, Tottori University School of Medicine, Yonago, Japan.

Journal of Electron Microscopy
|January 1, 1990
PubMed

Insights

Pre- and post-embedding immunogold electron microscopy effectively revealed human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) morphogenesis. These techniques are valuable for studying viral development and antigen localization during HIV replication.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Cell Biology
  • Microscopy

Background:

  • Persistent infection of U-937 cells with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) strain LAV provides a model for studying viral morphogenesis.
  • Understanding the intricate process of viral assembly and release is crucial for developing effective antiviral strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the utility of pre- and post-embedding immunogold electron microscopy techniques for analyzing HIV morphogenesis.
  • To characterize the specific stages and locations of HIV replication within infected U-937 cells.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized pre- and post-embedding immunogold electron microscopy on U-937/LAV cells.
  • Examined viral budding, antigen distribution, and virion morphology.

Main Results:

  • HIV budding was localized to membrane regions near the Golgi apparatus.
  • Viral envelope antigens were concentrated on electron-dense crescent structures at the cell surface.
  • Released virions exhibited either doughnut-shaped or conical cores, with p24 proteins localized to these cores.

Conclusions:

  • Pre- and post-embedding immunogold electron microscopy are highly effective for studying viral morphogenesis.
  • These techniques provide detailed insights into the structural organization and replication dynamics of HIV.

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