THE APPLICATION OF FERRITIN-CONJUGATED ANTIBODY TO ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF INFLUENZA VIRUS IN INFECTED CELLS : II. THE INTERIOR OF THE CELL

Functionalized protein nanocages as a platform of targeted therapy and immunodetection

To improve the therapeutic/diagnostic potentials of drugs and/or imaging contrast agents, various targeted delivery systems are actively being developed. Especially protein nanocages, hollow and highly symmetrical nanometer-sized cage structures that are self-assembled from multiple protein subunits, are emerging as powerful targeted delivery tools. Their natural abundance, biocompatibility, low toxicity, well defined size and high symmetry are a few of the favorable characteristics which render protein nanocages as near ideal carriers for pharmaceuticals and/or imaging probes. This review aims to highlight current progress in the development and application of protein nanocages in targeted drug delivery approaches with an emphasis on the use of antibodies as targeting motifs to achieve high selectivity toward specific targets.

Localization of antibodies in plasma cells by electron microscopy

The localization of antibody in the interior of plasma cells of lymph nodes of rabbits hyperimmunized with ferritin was studied by electron microscopy. The cells were incubated with the antigen (ferritin) which was allowed to penetrate into the cells by suitable methods. Antigen-antibody precipitates were localized in the cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum and in the perinuclear space. No evident association was found between ferritin and ribosomes or ferritin and outer cell membrane. Cells from control animals immunized with an unrelated antigen, incubated with ferritin, exhibited no labeling. From direct counts of ferritin molecules in plasma cells, a lower limit was evaluated for the antibody concentration in the endoplasmic reticulum (12.2 mg/cm³) and for the total antibody content of a plasma cell (7.0 x 10^–3 gm).

Susceptibility of human skeletal muscle culture to influenza virus infection. Part 2. Ultrastructural cytopathology

Cultured post-fused human skeletal muscle monolayers exposed to WSN influenza A virus were analyzed by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. At 12-14h post-inoculation (p.i.), affected mononuclear cells retracted from the cell surface, but remained anchored to the substrate by taut filar processes. Retraction was accompanied by shortening of microvilli, appearance of hemispherical cytoplasmic protrusions and corrugation of the surface proper. These changes were more pronounced at 24 and 48h p.i. The rounded, moribund mononuclear cells eventually detached from the substratum. Surface alterations were accompanied by the intracellular appearance of electron-dense nuclear inclusions (often associated with the nucleolus) and paracrystalline ribosomestudded cytoplasmic bodies, which increased in size and number with time. In myotubes, distinct surface alterations appeared later (24h p.i.). Early myotube retraction was accompanied by accentuation of the longitudinally oriented surface pleats and appearance of "blebs" followed by cell-rounding. At 48-72 h, many myotubes detached from the substratum. The surfaces of those still adhering appeared corrugated. Intranuclear and cytoplasmic inclusions accumulated, and budding virions, often filamentous, could be demonstrated at the plasmalemma of mononuclear cells and myotubes. Late (end-stage) cytopathic effects included clumping of chromatin, breakdown of the nuclear envelope, disappearance of cortical and endoplasmic cytofilaments, mitochondrial swelling, and vesiculation of surface membranes. The lesions leading to cell injury and cell death appeared to be due to massive accumulation of virus-induced products that altered cellular metabolism, with physical and functional abnormalities of surface membranes.

Electron microscopical study of initial and final stages of fowl plague virus-replication in chick embryo cells

Cellular uptake of fowl plague virus occurs 10-30 minutes after inoculation of chick embryo cells. The penetration of the virions is by pinocytosis (viropexis); fusion with the cellular membrane has not been observed. After pinocytosis the virions become gradually disintegrated. Budding of newly formed virions from the cellular membrane starts 3 hours post inoculation (p.i.) and reaches its maximum 8 hours p.i. At the same time budding takes place into electron microscopically empty and autophagic vacuoles. Eight hours p.i. about 3 per cent of the infected cells show budding of virions from the surface and into cytoplasmic vacuoles. Labelling of the cellular membrane with ruthenium red demonstrated that these cytoplasmic vacuoles are not simple cross-sections of invaginations of the cellular membrane. Cluster-like structures were found at 6 hours p.i. in the nuclei of infected cells; however, the suggestion that the clusters develop from nucleoli could not be confirmed.