title: Ultrastructural characterization of the giant volcano-like virus factory of Acanthamoeba polyphaga Mimivirus.
abstract: Acanthamoeba polyphaga Mimivirus is a giant double-stranded DNA virus defining a new genus, the Mimiviridae, among the Nucleo-Cytoplasmic Large DNA Viruses (NCLDV). We used utrastructural studies to shed light on the different steps of the Mimivirus replication cycle: entry via phagocytosis, release of viral DNA into the cell cytoplasm through fusion of viral and vacuolar membranes, and finally viral morphogenesis in an extraordinary giant cytoplasmic virus factory (VF). Fluorescent staining of the AT-rich Mimivirus DNA showed that it enters the host nucleus prior to the generation of a cytoplasmic independent replication centre that forms the core of the VF. Assembly and filling of viral capsids were observed within the replication centre, before release into the cell cytoplasm where progeny virions accumulated. 3D reconstruction from fluorescent and differential contrast interference images revealed the VF emerging from the cell surface as a volcano-like structure. Its size dramatically grew during the 24 h infectious lytic cycle. Our results showed that Mimivirus replication is an extremely efficient process that results from a rapid takeover of cellular machinery, and takes place in a unique and autonomous giant assembly centre, leading to the release of a large number of complex virions through amoebal lysis.
authors: Unité des Rickettsies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) UMR 6020, IFR 48, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France. marie.suzan@medecine.univ-mrs.fr
authors: Marie
authors: M
authors: Suzan-Monti
authors: Bernard
authors: B
authors: La Scola
authors: Lina
authors: L
authors: Barrassi
authors: Leon
authors: L
authors: Espinosa
authors: Didier
authors: D
authors: Raoult
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D036022:Capsid Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D004267:DNA Viruses / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004279:DNA, Viral / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D016679:Genome, Viral; D056686:Mimiviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D014771:Virion / Q000235:genetics / Q000648:ultrastructure; D014779:Virus Replication
chemical_list: D036022:Capsid Proteins; D004279:DNA, Viral