Herpes simplex virus and human cytomegalovirus replication in WI-38 cells. I. Sequence of viral replication.

A comparison, under standardized conditions, of herpes simplex virus (HSV) and human cytomegalovirus (CMV) revealed differences in viral morphology, in the timing of their infectious cycles, and in several morphological events during those cycles. Structural distinctions between the two viruses included the coating of unenveloped cytoplasmic CMV capsids, but not those of HSV, and a variation in the structure of their cores. Since the two cycles were carried out in the same host cell strain under conditions of one-step growth (input multiplicity = 10 PFU/cell), it was possible to construct time scales locating the major events of each cycle. Comparison of the two showed that HSV replicated and released progeny within 8 h postinfection, whereas CMV required 4 days. These results correlated well with those of concurrent plaque assays. Within the longer CMV cycle, most of the major events appeared retarded to a similar degree, and no obvious limiting step in particle production could be identified. Distinctions between the two cycles included the following: condensation of the chromatin in HSV- but not CMV-infected cells; the greater tendency of HSV to produce membrane alterations; and the appearance of cytoplasmic dense bodies in CMV- but not HSV-infected cells. Identification of these differences even under identical conditions of culture and infection strongly implies that they result from intrinsic differences in the nature of the viruses, and are not caused by variations in experimental conditions.