Biological and Morphological Aspects of the Growth of Equine Abortion Virus

Abstract

Darlington , R. W. (St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.), and C. James . Biological and morphological aspects of the growth of equine abortion virus. J. Bacteriol. 92: 250–257. 1966.—The growth of equine abortion virus (EAV) was studied by bioassay and electron microscopy in L-cell monolayer and suspension cultures, and in HeLa and BHK 21/13 cell monolayers. Results of virus assay (plaque-forming units) indicated that production of cell-associated virus (CAV) began at 6 to 9 hr after infection in all of the cell strains used. Virus release occurred 1 to 2 hr later. By 15 to 20 hr after infection, the amount of released virus (RV) equaled or surpassed that of CAV in all cells other than the HeLa cells, where the amount of RV did not equal CAV until 48 hr after infection. Electron microscopy of infected cells revealed no differences in the morphology of virus development in any of the cells used. Developing virus particles were first detected in cell nuclei at 9 hr after infection. At 12 hr, virus particles could be seen budding from the inner nuclear envelope. Budding into cytoplasmic vacuoles was not seen. Budding virus, virus in cytoplasmic vacuoles, and extracellular virus were all approximately 145 mμ in diameter, and were indistinguishable morphologically. These results indicated that EAV is quite similar to herpes simplex virus with respect to growth and morphology, and that the inner nuclear membrane is the principal site of virus envelopment.