Virus-cell interactions as seen by scanning electron microscopy.

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) has been used during the past few years to determine surface alterations of cells infected with a variety of RNA and DNA viruses. Infection of different cultured cells by RNA and DNA viruses usually revealed dramatic shape changes with surface alterations. The most frequent changes seen were "rounding up" of cells and the development of surface microprojections such as ruffles and microvilli. In the light of available knowledge, suggestions are made in this review for future SEM studies in this field with more sensitive methodologies, which will enable even better characterization of virus-induced cell surface changes.