Immunoelectron microscopic localization of herpes simplex virus antigens in infected cells using the unlabeled antibody-enzyme method.

Subcellular localization of viral antigens was demonstrated during viral morphogenesis using herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) infected monolayers of rabbit cornea cells. The localization was done by immunoelectron microscopy employing the peroxidase-antiperoxidase (PAP) immunocytochemical technique and the postembedding staining method. The localization of viral antigens was followed at time intervals during infection from 2 to 19 hr. After exposure of sections to either polyspecific antibodies against total HSV-1 antigens or monospecific antibodies against HSV-1 antigen No. 8, specific immunological reaction products were identified both in the cytoplasm and nucleus after 2 hr. The distribution and quantity of reaction products varied in the infected cells during the viral morphogenesis. The present results on the subcellular distribution of the HSV-1 antigens are related to current biochemical findings.