Correlative multi-scale cryo-imaging unveils SARS-CoV-2 assembly and egress
Published version
Peer-reviewed
Repository URI
Repository DOI
Type
Change log
Authors
Abstract
Abstract: Since the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, there have been intense structural studies on purified viral components and inactivated viruses. However, structural and ultrastructural evidence on how the SARS-CoV-2 infection progresses in the native cellular context is scarce, and there is a lack of comprehensive knowledge on the SARS-CoV-2 replicative cycle. To correlate cytopathic events induced by SARS-CoV-2 with virus replication processes in frozen-hydrated cells, we established a unique multi-modal, multi-scale cryo-correlative platform to image SARS-CoV-2 infection in Vero cells. This platform combines serial cryoFIB/SEM volume imaging and soft X-ray cryo-tomography with cell lamellae-based cryo-electron tomography (cryoET) and subtomogram averaging. Here we report critical SARS-CoV-2 structural events – e.g. viral RNA transport portals, virus assembly intermediates, virus egress pathway, and native virus spike structures, in the context of whole-cell volumes revealing drastic cytppathic changes. This integrated approach allows a holistic view of SARS-CoV-2 infection, from the whole cell to individual molecules.
Description
Keywords
Journal Title
Conference Name
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Publisher DOI
Sponsorship
RCUK | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) (BB/S003339/1)
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services | NIH | National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) (P50AI150481)