An in vivo study of intracytoplasmic membranous structures associated with chronic stunt virus infection in granular hemocytes of Amyelois transitella

Abstract

The fine structure of cytoplasmic, membranous structures associated with chronic stunt virus infection was studied in granular hemocytes of larvae of Amyelois transitella. Although nuclei of infected hemocytes apparently were not affected, viroplasmic bodies, the assumed sites of viral assembly, often filled the cytoplasm of these cells. Early stage viroplasmic bodies were bounded by single envelopes and contained finely granular, electron-dense viroplasms in which progeny virions formed aggregations or paracrystalline arrays. In mature viroplasmic bodies, viral aggregations and arrays were enveloped and segregated by multilayered membranous structures. Irregular, vesicular bodies occupied the electron-lucent areas between aggregations. Prior to cell lysis, membranous structures within viroplasmic bodies disintegrated in close association with secondary, membrane-bound bodies that were probably autophagic elements.