Virus detection in cell cultures An illustrated tutorial. Laboratory diagnosis of viral infections frequently requires the isolation of the virus in cell cultures. Cell monolayers are inoculated with a suitable clinical specimen, and then observed for cytological changes that indicate virus growth. The most efficient way to demonstrate cellular changes is by staining with chromatic dyes. Cell monolayers are fixed and then exposed to basic and acidic dyes that accentuate the nature and location of the changes.
Infected cells become rounded and the cell sheet disintegrates.
Dark basophilic inclusions within the nuclei represent accumulated viral proteins at the site of virus assembly. Reovirus Replication of reovirus particles occurs in the cytoplasm of the cell, and in the final stages of assembly the virus particles bud through the endoplasmic reticulum membrane. This page was prepared by Linda M Stannard from photographs taken by Diana Hardie, Department of Medical Microbiology , University of Cape Town.