Ferritin-conjugated antibody labeling of visna virus

Isolation and characterization of an antigenically distinct 68-kd protein from nonviral intracytoplasmic inclusions in Boa constrictors chronically infected with the inclusion body disease virus (IBDV: Retroviridae)

The relationship between a retroviral infection and the development of nonviral intracytoplasmic inclusion bodies was studied in a Boa constrictor model. Twelve juvenile age- and size-matched inclusion body disease (IBD)-negative boas were randomly divided into three groups. Each group was inoculated intraperitoneally with 1 ml of an IBD virus (IBDV)-infected liver homogenate or 1 ml of normal boa liver homogenate (sham-inoculated control) or was left untreated. All boas were monitored for development of IBD by daily examination and serial liver biopsy over 1 year. The 4 IBDV-inoculated boas became IBDV and inclusion positive by 10 weeks postinoculation. The average size and density of inclusion bodies increased with the duration of infection. Ultrastructurally, inclusion bodies <2 microm in diameter consisted of intracytoplasmic aggregates of granular electron-dense material that were not membrane limited. Larger inclusions (3-6 microm in diameter) were characterized as membrane-bound aggregates of amorphous to granular electron-dense material admixed with membranelike fragments. The sham-inoculated and untreated control snakes did not become inclusion or IBDV positive. Direct comparison of the protein electrophoretograms of IBDV-infected and normal boa tissues demonstrated a prominent 68-kd protein band unique to infected inclusion-positive tissues. Monoclonal antibodies directed against the 68-kd protein band specifically labeled inclusion bodies. The results of this study demonstrate that IBD inclusions represent an intracytoplasmic accumulation of an antigenically distinct IBDV-associated protein.

Ultrastructural studies on Maedi-Visna virus

Ultrastructural studies of Maedi-Visna virus (MVV) particles isolated from tissue culture fluids of MVV-infected cells as well as cultured cells infected with MVV were performed. MVV particles aree bounded by an envelope with projections loosely attached to its surface. Virions contain a core (sometimes two or more) of conical or ovoid shape enclosing an electron-dense nucleoid which is much smaller in diameter than the core and which can only be seen in ultrathin sections. A distinct core shell is to be found in most of the ultrasectioned particles. Cores, liberated from the virions by detergent treatment, exhibited the same shape as their enveloped counterparts. Budding structures with crescents underlying the cell membrane without an intermediate space seem to be bordered on their cell side by an electron-dense thin layer. Particles obviously representing intervenig stages of viral maturation showing parts of the crescents at the viral membrane and empty core shells could be found in single cases.

Electron microscopic studies on equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Brief report

Morphological studies of EIAV reveal knobs on the surface of the particles, conically and tubularly shaped cores, budding particles with dense crescents directly underlying the plasma membrane, and distinct intracytoplasmic structures in infected cells.

Ultrastructural studies of a visna-like syncytia-producing virus from cattle with lymphocytosis

A virus structurally similar to viruses associated with maedi, progressive pneumonia, and visna of sheep has been isolated from buffy coat cells of cattle with chronic lymphocytosis. Electron microscope studies revealed three variants of the virion: (i) an intracytoplasmic form 98 to 116 nm in diameter when occurring in a nonlaminated form, (ii) a budding form 120 to 130 nm in diameter, and (iii) an extracellular form 80 to 130 nm in diameter and containing a 30 to 43 nm eccentrically located electron-dense core.