In vivo and in vitro demonstration of nuclear bodies in vaccinia infected cells

Abstract

Nuclear bodies have been found in hypertrophic human epidermal cells infected in vivo with vaccinia virus. A hypothetical cycle of development and subdivision of these structures is presented. WI-26 human fibroblasts, infected in vitro with the vaccinia virus isolated from biopsy specimens, also contain “nuclear bodies” in cells which evidence viral cytopathic changes. Since vaccinia virus and all other viruses associated with the occurrence of nuclear bodies are DNA viruses, it is suggested that the process of viral replication with its concomitant altered nucleic acid metabolism and associated specific protein synthesis results in the production of nuclear bodies.