Electron Microscope Observations of Rubella Virus in Tissue Culture Cells

Abstract

SUMMARYA striking feature of the development of rubella virus in RK 13 cells was the presence of virus-like particlcs at the surface of the infcctcd cells. Thcse particles were not scen inside the cell cytoplasm or nucleus, nor were they identified in uninfected cultures. They wcrc pleomorphic, with some evidence of substructure. Their appearance coincided with thc dcvclopmcnt of ncw infective virus; they may, therefore, bc mature virus particles.

Mycoplasmas and cell cultures.

“…A similar case was the finding that the A-1 agent, isolated from an icterogenic plasma pool and originally thought to be a virus (127), was in fact M. gallisepticum (128). Most recently, an electron microscope study of rubella virus in cell cultures tentatively identified extracellular particles as rubella virions (30). Although isolation of mycoplasmas was attempted, the results were initially negative (T. S. L. Beswick, personal communication).…”

Molecular Biology of Rubella Virus

“…Holmes et al (1968) and Hamvas et al (1969) observed virions in intracellular vacuoles, but did not detect budding forms. In RK-13 cells, Matsumoto and Higashi (1974) reported budding at both intracellular membranes and the cell surface, Holmes et al (1968), Hamvas et al (19691, and Kouri et al (1974) reported accumulation of virions in intracellular vacuoles but did not observe budding forms, and Chatterji et al (1969) detected the presence only of extracellular virions and did not observe budding forms. In RK-13 cells, Matsumoto and Higashi (1974) reported budding at both intracellular membranes and the cell surface, Holmes et al (1968), Hamvas et al (19691, and Kouri et al (1974) reported accumulation of virions in intracellular vacuoles but did not observe budding forms, and Chatterji et al (1969) detected the presence only of extracellular virions and did not observe budding forms.…”