Influence of the cytoskeleton on the expression of a mouse hepatitis virus (MHV-3) in peritoneal macrophages: acute and persistent infection.

The effects of anti-cytokinetic drugs on virus production, formation of syncytia, cell surface changes and lysosomal damage were examined during mouse hepatitis virus 3 (MHV-3) infection of mouse peritoneal macrophages. Colchicine and vinblastine caused no detectable effect on the infectious process. In the presence of cytochalasin B the acute, highly cytopathogenic interaction that MHV-3 establishes with macrophages was converted into one which persisted for several days. Under these conditions the cell surface changes induced by the infection were maintained unaltered but cell fusion was reduced and no significant lysosomal damage was detectable.