Ultrastructural morphogenesis of salmonid alphavirus 1

Citation

Herath T, Ferguson H, Thompson K, Adams A & Richards R (2012) Ultrastructural morphogenesis of salmonid alphavirus 1. Journal of Fish Diseases, 35 (11), pp. 799-808. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2761.2012.01420.x

Abstract
Studies on the ultrastructural morphogenesis of viruses give an insight into how the host cell mechanisms are utilized for new virion synthesis. A time course examining salmonid alphavirus 1 (SAV 1) assembly was performed by culturing the virus on Chinook salmon embryo cells (CHSE-214). Different stages of viral replication were observed under electron microscopy. Virus-like particles were observed inside membrane-bound vesicles as early as 1 h following contact of the virus with the cells. Membrane-dependent replication complexes were observed in the cytoplasm of the cells, with spherules found at the periphery of late endosome-like vacuoles. The use of intracellular membranes for RNA replication is similar to other positive-sense single-stranded RNA (+ssRNA) viruses. The number of Golgi apparatus and associated vacuoles characterized by ‘fuzzy'-coated membranes was greater in virus-infected cells. The mature enveloped virions started to bud out from the cells at approximately 24 h post-infection. These observations suggest that the pathway used by SAV 1 for the generation of new virus particles in vitro is comparable to viral replication observed with mammalian alphaviruses but with some interesting differences.

Keywords
Atlantic salmon; CHSE-214; electron microscopy; morphogenesis; salmonid alphavirus; ultrastructure; Atlantic salmon Diseases

Journal
Journal of Fish Diseases: Volume 35, Issue 11

People

Professor Hugh Ferguson

Emeritus Professor, Institute of Aquaculture

Professor Randolph Richards

Emeritus Professor, Institute of Aquaculture