Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1-Infected Cells Studied By Optimized Mono-Immunogold Cryosection Electron Microscopy

The Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is a small biological structure that can only be observed in the electron microscope. Viral assembly depends on protein synthesis in the organelles of infected cells, but the exact process of the essential envelopment, the site of glycoprotein integration, and the maturation and transport of viral particles are still doubtful. The presented simplified immunogold cryosection electron microscopy method of HSV-1 infected cultured human fibroblasts (MRC-5) has proven necessary for obtaining reproducible results on cellular distribution of viral glycoproteins. It is now possible to demonstrate the viral glycoprotein gD-1, but not the gel in the nuclear membranes, as well as to demonstrate gD-1 and gC-1 labeled virus particles in the perinuclear space and to show the fate of the virus particles in the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi area in infected cells.