Scanning electron microscopic studies of virus-infected cells. I. Cytopathic effects and maturation of vesicular stomatitis virus in L2 cells.

L2 cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus under single-cycle conditions have been studied by scanning electron microscopy after preparation by the critical point drying technique. Three dimensional images of intact cells show bullet-shaped vesicular stomatitis virus virions budding singly and in radiating clusters both from the plasma membrane between cellular microvilli and from the sides of microvilli. Virus-induced cytopathic effects observed by scanning electron microscopy include intermeshing of microvilli, loss of filipodia which attach cells to the substrate, and rounding up and detachment of infected cells from the substrate.