Electron microscope study of cultured cells of the chorioallantoic membrane infected with representative paramyxoviruses.

Chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) tissue cultures were found to be permissive for representative paramyxoviruses. The CAM cells can be used for plaque assay without the presence of trypsin. Ultrastructures of CAM cells infected with paramyxovirus Yucaipa (PMY), Sendai virus, and NDV were different. Nucleocapsids were readily seen in budding structures of cells infected with PMY, and in Sendai virus infected cells, large clusters of nucleocapsids were clearly evident in the cytoplasm. The site of glycoprotein cleavage does not have any effect on the nature of budding. It appears that a factor or factors in addition to the nature of the plasma membrane influences the morphology of cells infected with paramyxoviruses.