Distribution by immunofluorescence of viral products and actin-containing cytoskeletal filaments in rubella virus-infected cells.

Rubella virus (RV)-host cell interactions were examined by indirect immunofluorescence staining using antibodies to viral products and cytoskeletal components as probes. The patterns of immunofluorescence observed with human convalescent sera indicated that in infected Vero cells RV-specified proteins were distributed throughout the rough endoplasmic reticulum with some possible accumulation in the region of the Golgi complex. Viral RNA synthesis, detected with anti-double stranded RNA, appeared to be confined to small, intensely stained foci irregularly distributed in the cytoplasm. When cells were infected at a higher multiplicity, these foci appeared to aggregate into linear arrays. Infection with RV had a profound effect on the organization of actin in both Vero and BHK 21 cells, as shown by anti-actin antibodies. Actin microfilaments were observed to disintegrate progressively into amorphous aggregates of apparently monomeric actin as the infection proceeded. Because of the role actin microfilaments may play in cell mitosis it is postulated that this effect may be related to the inhibition of cell division reported to be associated with the congenital rubella syndrome.