Cytoplasmic inclusions of respiratory syncytial virus-infected cells: formation of inclusion bodies in transfected cells that coexpress the nucleoprotein, the phosphoprotein, and the 22K protein.

Immunofluorescence staining and immunoelectron microscopy of respiratory syncytial (RS) virus-infected cells revealed the presence of cytoplasmic inclusions that were specifically labeled with monoclonal antibodies directed against the nucleoprotein (NP), the phosphoprotein (P), or the 22K protein. Transient expression of these three proteins with the vaccinia-T7 system, either individually or in different combinations, demonstrated that coexpression of NP and P was sufficient to induce the formation of cytoplasmic inclusions similar to those found in RS virus-infected cells. In addition, the 22K protein was also incorporated to the inclusions when coexpressed with both NP and P proteins. Immunobinding assays revealed the presence of NP-P and NP-22K complexes in extracts of RS virus-infected cells. These complexes were also detected in extracts of transfected cells that coexpressed the corresponding proteins. The implications of these results for the RS virus replicative cycle are discussed.