Ultrastructural and biophysical characterization of hepatitis C virus particles produced in cell culture.
J Virol
; 84(21): 10999-1009, 2010 Nov.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-20686033
ABSTRACT
We analyzed the biochemical and ultrastructural properties of hepatitis C virus (HCV) particles produced in cell culture. Negative-stain electron microscopy revealed that the particles were spherical (â¼40- to 75-nm diameter) and pleomorphic and that some of them contain HCV E2 protein and apolipoprotein E on their surfaces. Electron cryomicroscopy revealed two major particle populations of â¼60 and â¼45 nm in diameter. The â¼60-nm particles were characterized by a membrane bilayer (presumably an envelope) that is spatially separated from an internal structure (presumably a capsid), and they were enriched in fractions that displayed a high infectivity-to-HCV RNA ratio. The â¼45-nm particles lacked a membrane bilayer and displayed a higher buoyant density and a lower infectivity-to-HCV RNA ratio. We also observed a minor population of very-low-density, >100-nm-diameter vesicular particles that resemble exosomes. This study provides low-resolution ultrastructural information of particle populations displaying differential biophysical properties and specific infectivity. Correlative analysis of the abundance of the different particle populations with infectivity, HCV RNA, and viral antigens suggests that infectious particles are likely to be present in the large â¼60-nm HCV particle populations displaying a visible bilayer. Our study constitutes an initial approach toward understanding the structural characteristics of infectious HCV particles.
Texto completo:
1
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Vírion
/
Hepacivirus
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Virol
Ano de publicação:
2010
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos