Study Of Virus-cell Interactions Research Articles

Retroviral hijacking of host transport pathways for genome nuclear export.

Recent advances in the study of virus-cell interactions have improved our understanding of how viruses that replicate their genomes in the nucleus (e.g., retroviruses, hepadnaviruses, herpesviruses, and a subset of RNA viruses) hijack cellular pathways to export these genomes to the cytoplasm where they access virion egress pathways. These findings shed light on novel aspects of viral life cycles relevant to the development of new antiviral strategies and can yield new tractable, virus-based tools for exposing additional secrets of the cell. The goal of this review is to summarize defined and emerging modes of virus-host interactions that drive the transit of viral genomes out of the nucleus across the nuclear envelope barrier, with an emphasis on retroviruses that are most extensively studied. In this context, we prioritize discussion of recent progress in understanding the trafficking and function of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Rev protein, exemplifying a relatively refined example of stepwise, cooperativity-driven viral subversion of multi-subunit host transport receptor complexes.

Study of virus-cell interaction by the method of dielectrophoresis.

Study of virus-cell interaction by the method of dielectrophoresis.

Ultrastructural Characterization of Virus-Like Particles Produced by a Recombinant Baculovirus Expression Vector

Abstract Analysis of Hepatitis C virus (HCV) assembly and packaging, and the study of virus-cell interactions, have been impeded by the lack of a robust cell culture system and a viable small animal model. Recently, an alternative approach utilizing recombinant gene technology has been implemented. We describe a system in which specific HCV genes are cloned into a baculovirus to form a recombinant baculovirus expression vector that produces HCV proteins that self-assemble into enveloped virus-like particles (VLP). Four HCV structural genes were cloned into the baculovirus expression vector under the control of the polyhedrin promoter, and were then recombined with baculovirus DNA. A baculovirus with no HCV insert served as a negative control (wild-type). Ovary cells (Spodoptera frugiperda) were infected with either the recombinant or wild type baculovirus. Five-days post-infection, a group of cells were harvested, fixed in McDowell-Trumps solution, and routinely prepared for transmission electron microscopy (TEM).

The use of immuno-gold silver staining in bluetongue virus adsorption and neutralisation studies

The immuno-gold-silver staining (IGSS) technique was used in scanning electron microscopy for the detection and semi-quantitation of low copy antigens on the surface of cells. The methodology was exploited in experiments designed to examine the interaction of small numbers of virus particles with the surface of susceptible host cells. Using bluetongue virus (BTV) as an example, IGSS procedures confirmed that maximum adsorption occurred within 60 min and that adsorbed virus particles were distributed randomly on the surface of the cell. Neutralising antibody did not prevent binding of BTV to the plasma membrane, but abrogated virus uptake. The use of IGSS in the study of virus-cell interactions was validated by transmission electron microscopy and classical biochemical experiments utilising radioactively-labelled virus.

Cytophotometric analysis of lytically and persistently infected tissue culture cells with measles virus.

Lytically and persistently infected VERO and LUB cells were cytophotometrically characterized with the aid of computer analysis. Images scanned at 260 and 280 nm were processed by computer algorithms. With this approach, infected cells could be segmented and differentiated from uninfected cells. Lytically and persistently infected cells could be distinguished by distinct differences in nuclear and cytoplasmic optical densities. These findings are supported by biologic data based on the analysis of virus‐specific proteins and nucleic acids. The applied computer aided cytophotometry provides a new approach in the study of virus‐cell interaction.

The Genetics of Somatic Mammalian Cells ,

New quantitative techniques have been described for rapid plating of isolated single cells from a wide variety of human tissues under conditions such that almost every cell produces a macroscopic colony. These methods make possible new kinds of studies of the growth and genetics of mammalian cells. Application of these methods to problems of growth rate analysis, cell morphology, mutant production and isolation, analysis of the action of ionzing radiations, study of virus-cell interactions, and to certain problems in clinical medicine has been indicated.