Boolarra virus: Ultrastructure of intracytoplasmic virus formation in cultured Drosophila cells

Boolarra virus (BoV) is a Nodavirus isolated from Oncopera intricoides. Drosophila cell lines 1 (D1) and 2 (D2) were infected with virus and the progession of infection was followed in ultrathin sections viewed by the electron microscope. Viral morphogenesis was restricted to the cytoplasm. Virogenic stroma condensed to electron-dense areas in which were embedded electron-lucent and electron-dense particles. picornaviruslike particles 30 nm in diameter were found in membranous channels and paracrystalline arrays and were scattered throughout the cytoplasm of cells. Virus was released from cisternae and tracts which extended to the cells' periphery. Local disruption of cell membranes also released particles and aggregates of virus into the environment.