Electron microscope observations on tubular structures in cells infected with herpes simplex virus type 2.

The fine structure of filamentous structures and lattice-like structures found in herpes simplex virus type 2-infected cells was studied. By specimen tilting experiments, it was demonstrated that the lattice-like structures were the cross-sectional views of the tubular structures and the filamentous structures were the longitudinal sections. The observation in negatively stained preparations of isolated tubular structures revealed that the structure was constructed by regular array of ring shaped elements. A hypothetical model is presented for tubular structures constructed on the basis of the present findings. The tubular structures appeared as early as 6 hours after infection and reached a maximum at 12 hours.