Visualization of the Oncolytic Alphavirus M1 Life Cycle in Cancer Cells.

Abstract

Oncolytic alphavirus M1 has been shown to selectively target and kill cancer cells, but cytopathic morphologies induced by M1 virus and the life cycle of the M1 strain in cancer cells remain unclear. Here, we study the key stages of M1 virus infection and replication in the M1 virus-sensitive HepG2 liver cancer cell line by transmission electron microscopy, specifically examining viral entry, assembly, maturation and release. We found that M1 virus induces vacuolization of cancer cells during infection and ultimately nuclear marginalization, a typical indicator of apoptosis. Specifically, our results suggest that the endoplasmic reticulum participates in the assembly of nucleocapsids. In the early and late stage of infection, three kinds of special cytopathic vacuoles are formed and appear to be involved in the replication, maturation and release of the virus. Taken together, our data displayed the process of M1 virus infection of tumor cells and provide the structural basis for the study of M1 virus-host interactions.

• Authors: Jia Dan, Lin Nie, Xudong Jia, Cuiying Xu, Jing Cai, Yuan Lin, Jun Hu, Wenbo Zhu, Yinyin Li, Dong Chen, Ying Liu, Cheng Hu, Guangmei Yan, Jiankai Liang, Qinfen Zhang
• Journal: Virologica Sinica (Virol Sin) Vol. 36 Issue 4 Pg. 655-666 (Aug 2021) ISSN: 1995-820X [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 33481190 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: © 2021. Wuhan Institute of Virology, CAS.

Topics

• Alphavirus
• Animals
• Cell Line, Tumor
• Life Cycle Stages
• Neoplasms (therapy)
• Oncolytic Virotherapy
• Oncolytic Viruses
• Virus Replication