SEM of Vesicular Stomatitis Virus Infection in Cell Cultures Grown on Aluminum Foil.

摘要

The scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to study vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) infection of cells grown in culture. First attempts to resolve virions on the surface of cells grown on glass were unsuccessful because of electron charging. Aluminum foil was used as a support substrate for the growth of cell cultures. Its use eliminated surface charging and was very convenient in preparatory procedures for SEM. Five cell cultures were infected and viewed in the SEM at high magnifications. Seen after 7-1/2 hours of incubation, the first virus-like structures were solitary cylindrical protuberances from the cells' surface. With further incubation, the virions were arranged in tightly packed bundles on the cells. Purified suspensions of VSV and Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis virus (VEE) were viewed at a magnification of 100,000 in the SEM. The characteristic morphology of each virus was resolved. VSV was bullet-shaped and the typical arbovirus structure of a core surrounded by an envelope was observed in preparations of VEE.