[Assembly of viral particles in the cells infected with endotheliotropic or fibroblastotropic strains of human cytomegalovirus].

The ultrastructure of endothelial cells and fibroblasts infected with VHL/E or AD169 strains was examined. The cells producing the virus 25 days after infection with VHL/E strains (0.01 PFU/cell) contain numerous cytoplasmic-located filament-associated capsids in addition to standard infectious and noninfectious viral particles. Only single filament-contacting capsids were found in the cytoplasm of the cells producing the virus 20 days after infection with AD169 strain (0.001 PFU/cell). In situ DNA hydridization on the VHL/E-infected cells has indicated that the capsid-contacting filament is human cytomegalovirus DNA. The findings suggest that premature release of viral DNA from the capsids occurs during their maturation in the cytoplasm.