Structural components of human cytomegalovirus: in situ localization of the major glycoprotein.

The localization of the major cytomegalovirus glycoprotein, both in the viral particle and in the cell membrane, was studied by means of indirect immunofluorescence and immunoelectron microscopy using a guinea pig anti-glycoprotein hyperimmune serum recently obtained by Gonczol et al. [1986]. By indirect immunofluorescence a slight and uneven positivity was observed on the plasma membrane of unfixed cells starting from 72 h postinfection (p.i.) until the end of our observation time (7 days p.i.). At immunoelectron microscopy the plasma membrane proved positive only where the virus and dense bodies budded through the membrane to form their own envelope. Extracellular viral particles (both viruses and dense bodies) appeared very strongly labeled on the external surface.