[Electron microscopic study of a tick-borne encephalitis virus-infected cell culture exposed to tunicamycin].

Ultrastructural features of tick-borne encephalitis virus-infected pig embryo cell culture treated with different concentrations of tunicamycin at various intervals after infection were studied electron microscopically. The inhibition of glycosylation did not prevent virion formation in the infected cells. At the same time, treatment with tunicamycin led to marked accumulation of virus particles in cisterns and vacuoles of the Golgi complex and to a decrease in the number of virions released into the extracellular space. It is assumed that inhibition of glycosylation leads to disorders in the regulation of the final stages of virus particles transportation and release from the infected cell. The results of the study indicate an important role of the Golgi complex in realization of the final stages of flavivirus morphogenesis.