Ultrastructural Observation on Maturation Process of Cytomegalovirus in Human Cells

Yoon, Chul Jong; Chi, Je Geun

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus(CMV) infection can be diagnosed by finding characteristic intranuclear inclusion body and enlargement of the cell size congenital CMV infection can be associated with various types of anomalies seen in different gestational age. These anomalies are probable due to direct virus infection of the parenchymal cell m early gestation. Based on four autopsy cases of congenital CMV infection we have studied maturation process of virus particles in parenchymal cells, with special reference to me mode of replication and transmission. Virus particles in CMV-infected cells in brain and kidney showed nucleocapsids with characteristic concentric core, that were enclosed around fibrillar network in nucleus. During replication process virions showed various morphogenic mutation that was rather consistent in different tissues and individuals. There were virions without core or with eccentric core. Occasional cores were divided into 2~5 fragments. The virus particles reached the cytoplasm through the nuclear membrane, and here the virions increased twice in size. After virions were fully matured in the cytop1asm. they showed exocytosis phenomenon through the cellular membrane to reach extracellular portion.