The Mode of Entry of Herpes Simplex Virus Type 1 into Vero Cells

Abstract

The mode of entry of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) into Vero cells was investigated quantitatively with biological techniques. The entry of virus occurred rapidly when the virus-adsorbed cells were incubated at 37 C. The kinetics of virus entry was found to be similar to that of the process of uncoating, indicating that the uncoating of HSV-1 occurs simultaneously with the entry of virus into the cell. Experiments with ammonium chloride revealed that acidity in endosomes is not necessary for the entry or uncoating of HSV-1, in contrast with the cases of enveloped RNA viruses. In addition, endocytosis of the virus seems to be one of the processes of entry for HSV-1. However, the kinetics of endocytosis showed that the cell-bound virus is endocytosed gradually and suggested that the endocytosis of HSV-1 does not lead the virus to an uncoating process. These results are most consistent with a mechanism of entry for HSV-1 involving fusion of the viral envelope with the plasma membrane of the host cell.