Electron microscopy study of Melolontha poxvirus: The fine structure of occluded virions
1971; Elsevier BV; Volume: 43; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0042-6822(71)90317-5
ISSN1096-0341
AutoresMax Bergoin, G. Devauchelle, C. Vago,
Tópico(s)Poxvirus research and outbreaks
ResumoThe fine structure of the occluded virions of Melolontha melolontha poxvirus was studied by electron microscopy of ultrathin sections of spherules and of negatively stained virus suspensions isolated from these inclusions. Virions were oval 4000 × 2500 Å. The surface of the virus envelope consisted of spherical units 220 Å in diameter arranged without apparent symmetry and giving the virion the aspect of a mulberry, characteristic of poxviruses of the vaccinia subgroup. Each virion possessed an eccentric unilaterally concave core containing a substance of high electron opacity and delimited by a three-layered coat 150 Å wide. Inside the core a folded ropelike component, electron lucent and 200 Å in diameter, lay parallel to the long axis of the particle. Between the core coat and the virus envelope a substance of intermediate density formed a lateral body. A three-dimensional structure and a diagrammatic representation of a particle was constructed from a study of serial sections of virions. Specific staining of DNA followed by enzyme cytochemistry revealed that the viral genome was localized inside the core. Similarly the proteinaceous nature of the substance surrounding the core was demonstrated. The similarities of structure between this virus, other poxviruses of insects and the poxviruses of vertebrates are discussed.
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