Observations on the Fine Structure of Type 5 Adenovirus

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Abstract
Pellets containing areas of purified type 5 adenovirus have been obtained from suspensions of the virus by high speed centrifugation; the suspensions were prepared by treating infected HeLa cell cultures with a fluorocarbon. Virus-containing samples of. the pellets were fixed with permanganate, dehydrated, embedded in methacrylate and sectioned for study with the electron microscope. The sectioned virus particles have been found to have a hexagonal outline and to possess a central electron dense nucleoid surrounded by a less dense viroplasm, the whole limited by a very insubstantial outer membrane. In very thin sections the nucleoid appeared to consist of diffuse electron dense material together with thread-like elements; the latter could sometimes be seen arranged in parallel curving array. The significance of the hexagonal profile of the particle and of its tenuous outer membrane are discussed and the possible meaning of the apparent structural differentiation within the nucleoid considered.
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