@article {10.3844/ajidsp.2008.96.103,
article_type = {journal},
title = {Ultrastructural Evidences of Hepatitis B Infection in Human Liver Biopsies Disclose Complex Assembly and Morphogenesis Pathways for Hepatitis B Virus},
author = {Falcon, Viviana and Menéndez, Ivon and Acosta-Rivero, Nelson and Shibayama, Mineko and de la Rosa, Maria-C and Luna- Munoz, Jose and Miranda-Sanchez, Magdalena and Gavilondo, Jorge V. and Lopez, Deliana and Duenas-Carrera, Santiago and Gra, Bienvenido and Chinea, Glay and Garcia, Luisa Tamayo and Garcia, Waldo and Vidal, Eduardo and Arus-Soler, Enrique and Silva, Jose and Alvarez, Felix and Acosta, Emilio F. and Seoane, Jesus and Morales-Grillo, Juan and Penton, Eduardo and Kouri, Juan and Tsutsumi, Victor},
volume = {4},
number = {2},
year = {2008},
month = {Jun},
pages = {96-103},
doi = {10.3844/ajidsp.2008.96.103},
url = {https://thescipub.com/abstract/ajidsp.2008.96.103},
abstract = {Despite of recent advances on acknowledge of hepatitis B virus (HBV) structure and biology, little is known about the morphogenesis and release of virions. In this study, the ultrastructural analysis of HBV components in liver biopsies from chronically HBV-infected patients disclosed complex assembly and morphogenesis pathways for HBV. HBV core (HBcAg) and surface (HBsAg) antigens were specifically identified in all liver biopsies from HVB-infected patients. HBcAg containing core-like particles 24-28 nm in diameter were observed both in nucleus and cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Dane’s-like particles were detected either budding to or into the lumen of ER close to HBsAg containing tubular structures. Besides, Dane’s-like particles were detected in different vesicular compartments resembling multivesicular endosomes. Other kind of enveloped HBV-like particles similar to the previously described cobra-shaped and horn-shaped particles were also observed in hepatocytes. Some of these particles were connected to the vesicle membrane through a stalk 20-22 nm in diameter. On the other hand, spherical subviral particles (SVP) were frequently observed in cytoplasmic vesicles. Moreover, a minor proportion of enveloped HBV-like particles budding through the plasma membrane to the extracellular space and bile canaliculi were detected. Interestingly, Dane’s-like particles in the bile canaliculi and entering into ductular-like cells were shown. Strikingly, Dane’s-like particles close to tubular structures and specific immunolabeling for HBcAg both in cytoplasm and nuclei of stellate-like cells were detected. Remarkably, HVB-like particles appeared entering hepatocytes from large cytoplasmic processes of fibrocytes raising the interesting possibility of a cell to cell passage of HBV through direct transcellular migration.},
journal = {American Journal of Infectious Diseases},
publisher = {Science Publications}
}