A kinetic and ultrastructural comparison of alphavirus infection of cultured mosquito and vertebrate cells
Lehane, M.J.; Leake, C.J.
Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene 85(6): 229-238
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0022-5304 PMID: 7154145 Document Number: 191622
Details are given of an ultrastructural study of the course of Semliki Forest virus infection in cell lines derived from Aedes aegypti (L.), Anopheles stephensi List. and Aedes pseudoscutellaris (Theo.). A comparison was made with the course of infection in African green monkey kidney (Vero) cells. Vero cells and those of A. pseudoscutellaris showed rapid production of virus, whereas there was no rapid production in A. aegypti or Anopheles stephensi. Ultrastructurally, the only virally induced cell inclusion in early infection was the cytopathic vacuole type 1. Later in infection, in mosquito cells, electron-dense bodies appeared, and budding of new virions appeared to be very efficient. In Vero cells, large accumulations of envelope proteins and nucleocapsids saturated the plasma membrane, suggesting an inefficient budding process. After this, cytopathic vacuoles type 2 appeared in Vero cells and a mechanism for their formation is proposed. Subsequent death of Vero cells appeared to centre on the progressive build-up of envelope protein on the rough endoplasmic reticulum (which is never seen in mosquito cells) and subsequent vacuolation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, followed by cell lysis.