The fine structure of cells infected with temperature-sensitive mutants of herpes simplex virus type 2

Abstract

The fine structure of cells infected with the HG 52 strain of herpes simplex virus type 2 and 13 temperature-sensitive mutants derived from it was investigated. In cells infected with the wild-type virus, development of virions appeared to be similar to that described in previous reports. However there were two exceptions to this: (1) capsid envelopment apparently occurred de novo in the nucleus; (2) densely staining vacuolar accumulations were seen, frequently surrounding virus capsids. The 13 temperature-sensitive mutants of the virus were divided into three classes according to the type of capsid, if any, produced in cells infected and maintained at the non-permissive temperature. Class I mutants produced no capsids, Class II mutants produced empty and partial-cored capsids and Class III mutants produced empty, partial- and dense-cored capsids. Cellular alterations were also determined. Membranous tubular structures, previously unreported for herpes simplex virus, were observed in cells infected with Class III mutants and very occasionally with wild-type virus at the non-permissive temperature. Cytoplasmic particles were also found, but could not be correlated with any particular class of mutant.