ÉTUDE ULTRASTRUCTURALE DE L'ORGANISATION DU NUCLÉOIDE DU VIRUS DE LA VARICELLE ET DU ZONA
ULTRASTRUCTURAL STUDY OF THE ORGANIZATION OF VARICELLA-ZOSTER VIRUS NUCLEOID
Secteur de Virologie. Département de Microbiologie, B23 Sart-Tilman, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège (Belgique)
Secteur de Virologie. Département de Microbiologie, B23 Sart-Tilman, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège (Belgique)
Secteur de Virologie. Département de Microbiologie, B23 Sart-Tilman, Université de Liège, B-4000 Liège (Belgique)
Abstract
Varicella-Zoster Virus belongs to the alpha-Herpesvirus family. The morphological characteristics of this group are a central core made of DNA and proteins, an icosahedral capsid, a granular material called tegument and an envelope. The aim of this work was to determine the conditions under which virus morphology appears best preserved. The preparation conditions have been optimized using a panel of fixing agents and dehydratants. We have demonstrated that methanol, DMSO and ethanol/methanol allowed a better preservation of the viral particles and could be determinant for the appearance of the core. Methanol appears as the best because it permits the observation of more complex internal VZV nucleoid organization.