title: Influenza virus budding from the tips of cellular microvilli in differentiated human airway epithelial cells.
abstract: The epithelium of conducting airways represents the main target for influenza virus in mammals. However, the peculiarities of virus interactions with differentiated airway epithelial cells remain largely unknown. Here, influenza virus budding was studied in differentiated cultures of human tracheobronchial epithelial cells using transmission electron microscopy. Budding of spherical and filamentous virions was observed on the apical surfaces of cells with no association with cilia and secretory granules. Quantitative analysis of the distribution of viral buds on the cell surface indicated that the tips of the microvilli represented a prominent site of influenza virus budding in the human airway epithelium. As the microvilli of differentiated cells are involved in many fundamental cell functions, these data will prompt further studies on the biological significance of microvilli-associated budding for virus replication, transmission and pathogenicity.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Larissa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kolesnikova
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Sonja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heck
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Tatyana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matrosovich
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Dieter
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Klenk
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Stephan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Virology, Philipps University Marburg, Hans-Meerwein-Str. 2, 35043 Marburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Mikhail
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matrosovich
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000821:virology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004285:Dogs; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology*; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000821:virology*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008871:Microvilli / Q000648:ultrastructure / Q000821:virology; D012137:Respiratory System / Q000166:cytology / Q000821:virology; D013552:Swine; D057074:Virus Release; D014779:Virus Replication